The latest offering from Shake & Stir is an energetic reimagining of classic German folklore, but crass humour and uncertain intention lower the tone.

Brendan Maclean in GRIMM. Photo © Joel Devereux

GRIMM shakes and stirs the German folk tales collected and published by the Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, in the 19th century that are foundational to our modern ideas and variations of fairy tales.

Adapted by Nelle Lee and Daniel Evans, and directed by Evans, GRIMM interweaves some of the brothers’ most popular folk tales as the clock ticks toward midnight: Cinderella (Aschenputtel, as she is referred to in the play) goes to the ball in a golden dress spun by Rumpelstiltskin; Little Red Riding Hood encounters the wolf on her way to visit her grandmother; and the Beast goes into the woods seeking the heart of a virgin, demanded by his true love to restore her youth and beauty.

There are also references to other fairy tales – Goldilocks, Pinocchio, Rapunzel, Snow White, The Frog Prince, and more – some of which don’t have origins in the Grimms’ stories.

Much of the voiceover, and some of the character names...