Renato’s Theatre Company in Bristol have transformed Angela Carter’s story ‘Puss-in-Boots’ into a stage musical and will be performing their show for two nights in October at the Alma Tavern and Theatre. Carter’s tale is, as the promotional blurb for the musical puts it, a “scintillating blend of Perrault’s fairy-tale, Commedia dell’arte and Mozart and Rossini’s operatic Figaro”. In her marvellous retelling, she brings out the “feline raunchiness” of this much-told tale – the earliest written version appears to have been recorded by Giovanni Francesco Straparola in the 16th century, but the tale is perhaps most well known thanks to Charles Perrault’s version, published in the following century and translated by Carter in 1977. Fast forward to 2017, and Renato’s Theatre Company are joining in the celebrations of Carter’s links to Bristol on the 25th anniversary of her death with an exciting adaptation of her celebrated short story. The company write that through a combination of “feline musicality, […] bawdy wit and undertones of gender issues still relevant today, this production promises to be uplifting, wickedly funny and suitably provocative!” Head over to Theatre Bristol’s website to book tickets now.
Carter’s version of ‘Puss-in-Boots’ appears in her best-selling collection The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, and is the latest of her works to be adapted for the stage. It follows in the footsteps of such adaptations as ‘The Lizzie Play’ by Woman@RADA (an adaptation of Carter’s story ‘The Fall River Axe Murders’), ‘The Tiger’s Bride’ by Marvellous Machine in 2016 (which is making a return this week), and The Magic Toyshop by Theatr Iolo & Invisible Ink in 2014. Indeed, this appears to be an exciting time for stage adaptations of Carter’s work, with Emma Rice also recently announcing her forthcoming production of Carter’s final novel Wise Children.
Angela Carter Online 