Review: Women's Theatre Festival's GOBLIN MARKET Makes for a Visual Feast

"For there is no friend like a sister

In calm or stormy weather;

To cheer one on the tedious way,

To fetch one if one goes astray,

To lift one if one totters down,

To strengthen whilst one stands."

Excerpt from Christina Rosetti's poem "Goblin Market"

Long before Disney introduced the world to Anna and Elsa, Christina Rosetti penned GOBLIN MARKET, a fairytale narrative poem about the power of sisterly love. In Rosetti's poem, two sisters, Lizzie and Laura, triumphantly overcome the temptation of goblin men in a haunted wood.

Rosetti's piece has long been the subject of much interpretation and creative adaptations, including a musical version, which premiered at New York's Circle in the Square Theatre Downtown in 1986. This weekend. GOBLIN MARKET opened at Burning Coal Theatre as part of The Women's Theatre Festival.

Fusing together classical elements of both ballet and opera, GOBLIN MARKET is a visual feast, from Miyuki Su's fantastical set design to Jennifer Palmer's (The Carolina Ballet) mesmerizing choreography.

On Saturday night, Elizabeth Galbraith (Laura) and Jameesa Yarborough (Lizzie), one of two casts, euphoniously filled the theater with Polly Pen's soaring, operatic melodies, while Jennifer Palmer (Dancer Laura) and Carmen Felder (Dancer Lizzie) gracefully flitted across the stage en pointe in director Ashley Popio's flowing costumes. The goblins, which are played by a troop of multigenerational dancers, are more menacing and funny than scary, which makes GOBLIN MARKET appropriate for all ages.

At only an hour long with no intermission, the operetta marks the first foray into musical theater for the Women's Theatre Festival. And GOBLIN MARKET is sure to entertain and cast its spell over audiences, whether they are enjoying the piece at face value alone or searching for more subliminal meaning within Rosetti's words.

GOBLIN MARKET runs through July 22nd at Burning Coal Theatre as part of The Women's Theatre Festival. For more information visit:

https://www.womenstheatrefestival.com/.

Photo by Proctor Photographics.

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