In Liverpool, a playful rumor circulated that a furious Coleen McLoughlin had tossed Wayne Rooney’s engagement ring into a bush. This amusing tale sparked a frenzy among local treasure hunters.
The situation escalated to the point where the National Trust had to prevent treasure seekers from scouring the Formby Point nature reserve, fearing that the search for the £25,000 ring might disturb the local wildlife. However, the notion of Coleen discarding the ring in a squirrel sanctuary is more fiction than fact.
Helen Serafinowicz, transitioning from screenwriting to playwriting, has a knack for humor and an imaginative flair that she deftly employs in The Legend of Rooney’s Ring. She transforms this urban legend into a mythical narrative set in a whimsical world reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm and J.R.R. Tolkien. Here, we meet the spunky C’leen (played by Emma Grace Arends), a princess who falls for the warrior Wayne (portrayed by John May).
The narrative suggests C’leen’s royal parents would be the main barrier to their love, but greater threats loom. Enter the menacing orange-faced Emperor Trump (a boisterous Terry Mynott) who places a spell on Wayne. As long as he possesses the ring, he becomes irresistibly attractive to women—a fate best described as a “fanny magnet.”
Directed by Stephen Fletcher, the production gleefully captures pantomime spirit, combining playful confrontations with lively pop music (some songs more relevant than others). Yet, pantomimes thrive on clear archetypes of good versus evil, and without stronger conflict, the silliness risks becoming tedious.
In this instance, the depth of Rooney’s relationship feels too superficial to engage with, and the Emperor’s real-life equivalent poses a more significant threat than this exaggerated fool with ambitions to “make Liverpool great again.” After a humorous opening scene featuring peasants hunting for the ring, Serafinowicz strays from the original charm of the story, morphing a bright concept into a two-hour comedic sketch.
Catch the show at the Royal Court, Liverpool, until August 23.
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