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music by Scott Christian, lyrics by Lezlie Wade, book by Alisse Lee Goldenberg, directed by Jen Shuber

Goldenberg Productions, Toronto Fringe Festival, George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire Place, Toronto

July 4-15, 2018

Goldenberg Productions’ The Princess Of The Tower is a thoroughly delightful children’s musical that deserves a life beyond the Fringe.

Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s book takes elements of several fairy tales and combines them into a positive story about the importance of making one’s own informed decisions. Along the way, she also promotes the joys of reading and writing.

A King (Rick Hughes) wants his daughter the Princess (Lana Carillo) to marry, but he can find no suitor she likes. She wants time to think and so the King finds her a remote tower with enough food and books to please her. A Ziz (a giant bird of Jewish myth) drops an illiterate shepherd (Kenton Blythe) on her tower and the Princess and he fall in love as she teaches him to read and write. But will the father approve of her marrying a peasant?

The musical is made up of more song than speech. Scott Christian’s klezmer-infused music is memorable and Lezlie Wade’s lyrics are clever and clearly sung by the strong-voiced six-member ensemble.

Director Jen Shuber understands the transformational power of children’s imaginations where men can be women, women can be men and both can be horses or sheep simply by saying so.

©Christopher Hoile

Note: This review appeared in NOW Magazine on July 5, 2018.

Photo: Rick Hughes, Michael MacEachern, Lana Carillo, Camila Diaz-Varela, Catarina Ciccone and Kenton Blythe. ©2018 Msarookanian Photography.

For tickets, visit https://fringetoronto.com.