Review: A Little Princess, Theatre by the Lake

“There were tears in my eyes by the end and my heart was full of joy”

A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, adapted by Amanda Dalton, Keswick, Theatre by the Lake

By Ken Powell

Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake (TBTL) have a long history of putting on magical theatre at Christmastime, which isn’t a pantomime. The team are always excellent at putting on plays or musicals that transports audiences, young and old, to far away places. None have more power and magic than A Little Princess. It is a marvel. There is everything to love here that carries the spirit of Christmas as we follow a generous-hearted girl, Sara, through the tragedies she faces in a strict and unwelcoming English boarding school for girls in the 1930s.

There are significant issues with adapting novels written at the height of the British colonial period, especially when, in this case, India features so prominently. At best such novels can appear condescendingly romantic. At worst, they can be cringe-worthy in their prejudice. Amanda Dalton has done a remarkable job in adapting Frances Hodgson Burnett’s story with Anindita Ghosh’s expert touch as cultural consultant giving the whole tale an authentic revamp for a modern audience.

While remaining true to the spirit of the plot and most of the characters, this adaptation puts the story back in the hands of the Indian characters and brings the magic of this country to life beautifully and with loving care. Tackling the issue of the British Raj head on, we have the tale narrated by Ishan Ramdas (Ronny Jhutti) against the background of Gandhi’s fight for the independence of India. The story comes closer to the heart of the original book, focusing on the prejudice all the characters can be guilty of as they grow in understanding about each other. Forgiveness is the ultimate message here, without it ever having to be said.

This could only work with an excellent cast, and TBTL don’t let us down. Genevieve Sabherwal, playing the titular ‘princess’ Sara Crewe, is wonderfully bright, funny and engaging as the young storyteller who captivates hearts. Ronny Jhutti plays the narrator, Ishan Ramdas, with such a gentle spirit, you can’t help but fall in love with him. Natalie Blair, playing class friend to Sara, Ermengarde St. John, takes the stereotype of the ‘dunce’ in the class and transforms her into a likeable and relatable person.

At Christmas, TBTL always try to involve the community, often with having child actors on the stage. One normally gives a little generosity to young actors who may be on the stage for their first time. There was no need to make any such allowances with this performance. The whole group were perfect, so much so, it was hard to tell the difference between them and the adult professional actors in their ranks.

But just tipping the balance as the best thing since sliced bread (or, perhaps, bread rolls and sausages?) on the stage was Eve Pereira as the much-maligned maid, Becky. I don’t know if she dug deep into her northern roots as a Cumbrian, but Pereira convincingly goes from aloof, hardened girl to Sara’s dearest friend when things go so wrong for her. Becky was a character we all fell in love with.

It is rare I have seen a performance anywhere in the country where I’ve been so spellbound every single second of the play. The pace is almost a whirlwind, the characters so engaging and the whole visual imagery so beautiful that both halves of the show felt like a mere handful of minutes. There were tears in my eyes by the end and my heart was full of joy. Having lived many years in Bangladesh – once India’s Bengal – I found myself homesick for a land I know is still truly magical even today, nearly 100 years on from the setting of this story. It was a privilege to witness this production. Christmas has truly started and it will have an Indian magic this year.

A Little Princess is showing at Theatre by the Lake until Sunday 7 January 2024. To find out more call the Box Office on 017687 74411 or visit www.theatrebythelake.com.