By Compass Contributor Christopher Tobutt
Step into the Prospect Playhouse on a sunny weekend morning, and you’ll find yourself whisked away – not just into Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, but into a world where mattresses become mountains, butterflies are counted with joy, and the Cayman Islands shimmer as the backdrop to a timeless story of kindness, courage and curiosity.
Directed by Alena Valiaeva, this adaptation of ‘The Princess and the Pea’ is a 45-minute burst of theatrical delight, designed for young children but utterly charming for adults, too.
From the moment Michaela Adams, our narrator, steps onstage to welcome us, the transition from everyday life to enchanted storyland is seamless. Her warm presence and gentle storytelling invite us to lean in, let go and believe.
The tale begins in a palace that could just as easily be a child’s living room. The prince (John-Michael Kerford), lonely and longing for a friend, sets off to find a princess. His journey is peppered with modern-day mishaps – “She didn’t want to talk to me. She didn’t want to count butterflies with me … All she wanted to do was play on her iPad…” – eliciting giggles from grown-ups and knowing nods from kids. But when Hayley Reid’s radiant princess arrives at the door, the spark is instant. She’s playful, curious, and – most importantly – she likes counting butterflies.
The children in the audience become part of the story, shouting clues during hide-and-seek and gasping as mattress after mattress is stacked in the famous pea test. The music, a delightful blend of Beethoven, Louis Armstrong and a Caymanian twist on “Hushabye Mountain,” adds emotional depth and local flavour. As the lullaby floats through the theatre, it’s impossible not to feel transported – if only for a moment – into a place where dreams are real and worries melt away.
The cast shines: Zoe Justice as the queen brings warmth and wit; Michael McLaughlin’s king is endearingly overprotective, and the ensemble’s chemistry is palpable. Valiaeva’s vision – setting the story “between times” in the Cayman Islands – grounds the fantasy in familiarity, making the magic feel close to home.
This production doesn’t just entertain, it rekindles wonder. It reminds us that joy can be found in the simplest things: a game of hide-and-seek, a butterfly’s flight, a goodnight song. And in doing so, it nudges us – gently, playfully – back to that place inside where miracles still feel possible.
‘The Princess and the Pea’ continues its run on 28 Sept. and 4 and 5 Oct., with shows at 11am and 2pm.
Tickets, at $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, can be purchased online at the Cayman Drama Society website.
Christopher Tobutt is a freelance journalist who has written for various publications in the Cayman Islands since 2003.
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