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Theatre Royal BathThis eccentric retelling of the bloody story flamboyantly combines songs and pop culture gags but still shocksEmma Rice’s retelling of this bloody folktale could be described as Blue Beard: The Cabaret. It is a characteristically eccentric affair, with song, movement and oodles of theatrical pizzazz. The ancient story of a man who murders his wives and keeps them in a locked chamber is flamboyantly, cheekily updated with pop culture references (from Lady Gaga to Jamie Oliver). Rice’s writing feels unruly but who cares when it is so charming? Magnificently mischievous, the show is staged as a musical (composed by Stu Barker), morphing into a full-on gig before reshaping itself to a more spine-chilling form.Serial husband Blue Beard (Tristan Sturrock) is a svelte, sinister magician in a burgundy suit, wooing his bride, Lucky (Robyn Sinclair), by sawing her in half before his rapt audience. Little does Lucky know it is a sign of things to come. After they are married, his magic key reveals that she has disobeyed him by straying into a locked chamber, and discovering the dead bodies of all his former wives.At Theatre Royal Bath until 10 February. Then touring until 18 May. Continue reading...