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Magic potions and talking sheep in South Simcoe Theatre’s production of ‘The Princess and the Handmaiden’

November 27, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Mix up some magic potion, send your daughter on a dangerous journey, and hope she marries the Prince of her dreams – that’s the premise of The South Simcoe Theatre’s production of The Princess and the Handmaiden.

Written and composed by Leslie Arden, based on the Grimms’  Fairy Tale, The Goose Girl, this musical is produced by Mel Hinch and directed by Rae Smith.

This fun production is suitable for all ages.

Living a life of privilege, a young princess, played by Keli Jay, is happy with her life and longs to explore the world before settling down and getting married.

In the role of the queen, Ipshita Roy Burman has other ideas for her daughter.

The queen has learned that the King of a nearby kingdom is deathly ill, and she has mixed a magic potion that will cure him.

The queen encourages her daughter, the princess, to make a journey to take the magic potion to the King. She also mentions that the King has a son, a prince, who is of marriageable age and suggests a union between the two would be profitable for both royal families.

The queen gives the princess a lock of white hair that will serve as a talisman to keep her safe.

Not wanting to travel alone, the princess asks her lifelong companion, the handmaiden, played by Michelle Greig, to go with her on the trip.

At first, the handmaiden has no interest in taking the journey. She changes her mind when she learns they will be meeting a prince who may be looking for a wife.

The two young women set off on a dangerous journey through a dark forest. After several days, the handmaiden begs the princess to stop in the forest to rest.

The story takes a sudden twist, and the two women are separated.

Continuing on the journey, the Handmaiden presents herself to the King, played by Tom Mercer.

The princess is found by a shepherd, played by Brie Taylor. She is in bad shape after spending time alone in the woods, but the shepherd helps her regain her health.

Finding herself in a local pub, the princess tells the townsfolk her story of being a princess and being betrayed. They listen to her but decide she is just making up a story.

Can the princess continue her journey to the kingdom to meet the prince?

The story is rounded out by a talented cast including Brent Campbell, Nancy Chapple, Rebecca Kratky, Chris Rapin, and Walter Stewart.

A beautiful musical score is played by production musicians: Tobin Lippold on acoustic guitar, Brooke Ramos White on flute, and music director/pianist Alondra Vega-Zaldivar.

The Princess and the Handmaiden is on The South Simcoe Stage through to Dec. 7, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online at the theatre’s website at www.thesouthsimcoetheater.com.

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