Hansel & Gretel

Based on Englebert Humperdinck's (the composer, not the singer) opera, this puppet-animated version of the Grimms Brothers fairy tale is surprisingly good, with excellent stop-motion animation effects that turn the puppets into living, breathing creatures. An award-winner in its day, the operatic storyline has Hansel & Gretel searching the forest for strawberries for dinner. They do find the strawberries, but they also find something else: an edible cottage. In between nibbles, they are accosted by Rosina Rubylibs who, unbeknownst to the children, is a cherub-chomping witch. Hansel gets thrown in a cage for fattening, while Gretel does kitchen duty in preparation for the upcoming feast. All ends well, of course, with Rosina getting closer to her oven than Easy-Off ever did. The question remains, how much opera can children sit still for? My guess is not a lot. And Hansel & Gretel is filled with lofty arias (with the standard incomprehensibility of the actual words which is apparently a staple of good opera). The cultural minded among you may want to add this not-so-modern but technically well done program to your collection. It is good, but sort of in the way spinach is good for you. Recommended, with the above reservations. (Available from most distributors.)