| Totally engrossing |
At Hijinx Theatre |
| Hijinx Theatre- Gulliver , Wales Millennium Centre , December 13, 2009 |
This is an accomplished piece of writing and directing that tackles head on attitudes to mental health using the device of satire in a way that Jonathan Swift would have found totally appropriate.If there is a negative it is perhaps trying to cram so much into a couple of hours while giving the audience breathing space to think about what they are seeing and allow the filter of analysis to work its magic. The best known parts of Gulliver’s Travels, the adventure in Lilliput, is due to its familiarity the easiest part of this show to absorb. This is a good thing as it is also where we are introduced the conceit of the play, the satirist in Ireland being treated by Doctor Lemuel Gulliver, played by Michael Wagg, who offers Swift a manuscript of his travels to read. The play then takes the course of Swift living out these adventures within the confines of his chambers, with set and costume designer Carl Davies using the clever device of a dolls house that is a miniature version of the Dublin house the troubled author inhabits. We also have Swift visited by Esther who had been left behind in England and in the past with a nice twist in the end that needs to be kept unsaid for the benefit of future audiences. Louise Osborn directs the fantastic characters through their equally fantastic antics superbly with the help of great costumes and masses of quick changes that allows the small cast to adopt a large array of roles. I watched with adults and teenagers and they were equally absorbed throughout although I think the author’s decision to go for it with the Blefuscudian Emperor appearing dripping in Gulliver's urine while the Yahoo proudly hands over one of his turds to our hero appealed greatly to the youngsters. Brendan Charleson was a power to be reckoned with as Swift and never faltered in a totally engrossing performance while the touches of contemporary satire, such as greedy bankers and asylum seekers, while obvious, also reminds us that the 18th century author was a hard-hitting and highly controversial writer in his day. Zoe Davies is a very versatile actress having to cover roles as diverse from the zany to the profound while James Ashton similarly leaps from role to role with aplomb. |
Reviewed by: Mike Smith |
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