It’s mid-summer’s eve, the one night of the year where the fairy world and human world collide. What mischief could Rose and her fairy friend Wicked Nix possibly get up to? Wicked Nix, a young-adult novel written by Lena Coakley, adapted for the stage by Paula Wing, and directed by Stephen Colella, is a fun feisty fairy tale come to life. Perfect for the whole family, Wicked Nix is one delightful fairy trick after another!

Wicked Nix lives in a nest in the fairy forest. Last year, on midsummer’s eve, he was charged with watching over the forest by the Faerie Queen until her return. Eating the offerings on the fairy table which are left by the residents of the nearby village and playing with his one human friend Rose (or Rose the Wise as she prefers), Wicked Nix is eagerly awaiting the return of the Faerie Queen. However, when a man moves into an abandoned cottage and won’t leave, it’s up to Wicked Nix and Rose to try and protect the forest from their new invader, and to keep Nix safe from all of the man’s fairy traps. But who is this new man and why has he chosen this particular cottage? Will Rose get to meet the Faerie Queen? And what will happen to her if Wicked Nix goes back to live with the fairies?

The Ada Slaight Stage has been transformed into a scene from a picture book thanks to Ting-Huan挺歡 Christine Urquhart’s dreamy set design. With tufts of yarn on the bushes, removable colourful rugs to represent the Earth being gardened, and a fabulous reveal for the arrival of the fairy queen, this set is full of wonders. A particular favourite was how the various set pieces light up when there are fireflies in the air or when the fairies come to visit; it’s such a simple thing yet adds so much magic to the scenes. Likewise the clothes of the people are colourful and perfectly juxtaposed against the Earthy tones of Wicked Nix and Mr. Green’s costumes. The Faerie Queen is on a whole other level though, with the moon phases gracing the front of her lavish robe. The experience feels truly enchanting.

Faerie lore goes back for centuries, and these protections and myths get passed down through story and song. I was thrilled to see all of that reflected in Wicked Nix. Everything from a salt circle to protect your house to wearing daisy chains to keep safe, they’ve hit on so many of these ingrained magics. And not only that, but also the nasty or nice little tricks the fairies are willing to pull if you don’t give them what they want or if you anger them. Not only are these little revenges effective, but they also cause a great deal of laughter from the littlest audience members. But I think what I loved the most was that they’re still passed down the same ways: through story and song. Both Man-People and Mummy tell stories to the younger ones about fairies and why they use these particular protections against them. And the little folks songs which sound like lullaby’s but are actually a warning feature prominently in the text. Just as we tell stories to connect with each other, we also can use these stories to protect one another; it gets right to the heart of fairy tales and why they exist.

Davinder Malhi stars as Wicked Nix – his athleticism and energy are certainly put into good use for this show as he darts around the stage making his fairy mischief. Qiana MacGilchrist’s Rose the Wise is a fiery and curious little girl, and MacGilchrist beautifully brings all of that to life. Both Malhi and MacGilchrist do a fabulous job of embodying the energy and momentum of a child without going over the top. Christine Horne’s Mummy is kind and gentle, while still very much respectful of the fairies; the polar opposite to her nefarious Faerie Queen. James Dallas-Smith’s Man-People is equal parts funny and heartbreaking. He has a commanding stage presence and infuses all of that into this new addition to the forest. Michael Spencer-Davis is a formidable Mr. Green, bringing the calming and ferocious forces of nature to life in this otherworldly character.

Wicked Nix is about family; it’s about finding family when you think you’ve lost it, and learning what family truly feels like. Full of magic and wonder, and a plot twist I certainly didn’t see coming, Wicked Nix is a delightful trip to the theatre for the whole family.

Wicked Nix runs at Young People’s Theatre until May 15. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.youngpeoplestheatre.org/shows-tickets/wicked-nix/

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Cover Photo: Pictured L-R: Qianna MacGilchrist and Davinder Malhi in the YPT production of Wicked Nix. Set & Costume Design by Ting – Huan 挺歡 Christine Urquhart; Lighting Design by Rebecca Picherack. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

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