Book, Music, Lyrics: Nicky Douglas
Director: Nicky Douglas
Assistant Director: Becky Hoyle
“Didn’t they just do this with the Wicked Witch of the West?” early lines tease, nodding to the trend of villain origin stories. While ERA Theatrical Productions’ Apparently Ugly doesn’t quite reach the narrative depth or sophistication of Wicked, this musical retelling of Cinderella’s stepsisters delivers a charming, fast-paced afternoon for younger audiences.
Opening with a fairy tale narrator promptly cut off by the sisters, the show playfully dismisses classic pantomime tropes to forge its own path. When their mother (Nicky Douglas) casts them out for failing to conform to traditional beauty standards, sisters Agnes (Amber Hegarty) and Olga (Hannah McRoche) shed their garish gowns for simple attire, embarking on a quest set by a magically appearing Fairy Godfather (Elliott Wooster). To break their “ugly” curse, they must retrieve three magical items: a bean, a blue acorn, and the heart of true reflection.
Slick design work makes the most of the space, using a rotating periaktos set piece to seamlessly transition from the stepmother’s imposing mirror to a market stall and woodlands. Wooster multiroles with comedic flair, guiding the sisters as they slowly trade their bratty insults for genuine sisterly love. Moments like confronting a fear of squirrels to retrieve the blue acorn lead into the sweet title ballad, culminating in the heartwarming realisation that true beauty comes from within.
Packed with fart jokes, puppet squirrels, and upbeat original tunes, the show easily wins over its target age group. However, with thin subtext and predictable beats, there is little meat on the bone for adult theatregoers. Apparently Ugly is a fun, bright family outing, even if it stays firmly on the surface.
Runs until 31 August 2026 | Image: Contributed
