The Mermaid of Zennor review, Rosemary Branch Theatre

The Mermaid of Zennor is a mythic tale of a village by the sea where people mysteriously disappear and women with translucent skin and hair that never dries, are conjured on the pews at Church. What happened to Henry, the young boy who believed love waited for him beneath the waves? In her seaside home, dreamy Imogen listens to her mother's stories of mermaids and stolen souls and wonders why she is inexorably drawn to the shore when the water is most turbulent.

Sirens off

During one story telling session her mother, Iris, tells Imogen that she and Imogen's fisherman father, Thomas, are not Imogen's biological parents. She was discovered, abandoned as a new born baby, in a rock pool. The young girl suddenly understands the contradictions within her. Realising she has mermaid genes, she is spurred to rescue Henry who was lured and imprisoned underwater by The Mermaid of Zennor.

The acting and singing in this play is lovely, and and puppetry is beautiful - the hallmark of Moon On A Stick Productions. Technically this is a family piece, but the only child in the intimate theatre space at the Rosemary Branch this evening received cold looks from the adults around him every time he disturbed their enjoyment by shuffling around in his seat or whispering to his mum.

In conclusion: Unusual, romantic and short (60 minutes), The Mermaid of Zennor is a rare treat. The undersea scenes are clever and transporting and the cast works the material and the puppets elegantly.  It's a new show and future dates have yet to be confirmed, but are worth catching. You can use the link below to find out more.

References
Mermaid of Zennor, tour dates will be announced here

Rosemary Branch Pub and Theatre,  2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT.          Run ends 28 June