Apparently Ugly: A Stepsister Story continues at Ermintrude at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 31 August 2026 (except 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26).
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
A magic mirror reflects a number of people in the front row. Rousing music, dry ice and a voiceover proclaims the happy ever after resolution of Cinderella’s story. But not for long. Everything is brought to a car crash halt by the arrival of Agnes and Olga, her stepsisters (beautiful teamwork by Amber Hegarty and Hannah McRoche).
They demand that their story be told. The audience is duly primed, cheers them and boos all reference to Cinderella. The sisters want happy ever afters too. And why shouldn’t they? ‘Simple’, sings mother (a chunky performance by the show’s author and composer Nicky Douglas), ‘You are ugly!’ They are kicked out and forbidden to return until they have found husbands.
Of course, they don’t get on, but in a rare moment of agreement, make the same wish (the lovely ‘I want to be beautiful’). Cue The Fairy Godfather (a delightfully camp Elliott Wooster) who sends them on a quest to find three ingredients which together will make their wish come true, the locations of which are aided by a handy map which the sisters proceed to decimate in yet another argument.
There are lots of fairy tale references in the script: Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Into the Woods, etc. and a trio of curious characters who they meet on their journey (Wooster revelling in all these roles), until they discover what beauty really is. And it’s not the makeover their mother urges.
There are times (thankfully few) when the panto elements – though they insist it’s not a panto – slow down the action, but all in all it’s a very funny show. The songs are great, the staging and choreography tight and the singing a joy. The audience loved it.
A special mention should be made of Sarah Douglas, whose costumes are brilliant.
James Bryce
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