Theatr Iolo |
| Theatr Iolo- Grimm Tales , Old Library Cardiff , November 19, 2003 |
| Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm set down their 209 tales at the beginning of the nineteenth century “in a book bound with green leather and gold edges with no pictures in it”. They didn’t invent the stories themselves but collected them from a great variety of people who had had them passed down orally to them over many years. They knew the value of good stories and the need to collect them so that today and for many years in the future these simple tales will be there to inform young people and remind adults that wickedness will always fail and that goodness will always be rewarded! Theatr Iolo’s Artistic Director Kevin Lewis and his adapter, the highly acclaimed Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy continue this tradition of story telling for young people with this present production of two of the tales. Kevin has chosen a simple and direct manner with which to engage his audience. This allows the clarity of the words and the sharply defined performances of the actors to reveal first, the story of Hansel and Gretel and second the rise to happiness of poor little Ashputtel, in a way that almost perfectly captures the atmosphere of the German forests from whence the tales had originally sprung. Hansel and Gretel’s mother, hard faced and dressed in black is extremely nastily played by Sian McDowall, we almost cheered when she met her end in the oven that she had prepared for Gretel’s demise – she had to turn up as the wicked witch as well, didn’t she? Emma Jones did a very engaging act as the big brother who would sort everything out. Steve Hickman, a master of quick changing facial expressions, moved from weak and subservient husband via a role as a miming commentator (During which he had some of his funniest moments) to warm-hearted welcoming dad, with ease and no little bemusement. Some of which we all shared, as we did his joy when his children were happily returned to him by courtesy of a brave duck that had brought Hansel and Gretel across the water, out of the dark forest and away from its discordant frightening music. The music was more melodic in the second tale where Sian McDowall had cast off her evil black and danced about, smiling with delight as the innocent Ashputtel. Anna Joseph’s wistful Gretel was now transformed into an evil stepsister, she was joined in her bullying of little Ashputtel by Emma Jones. Again, black dressed, they were more than just wicked, they were jealous and greedy. To gain their aim to marry the prince they were prepared to seriously disfigure themselves. With a huge thick bladed knife and monstrous sound effects we were all made to wince and cry out in their pain as they cut off bits of their feet! But it was Ashputtel’s dainty unblemished foot that fitted the slipper and Sian married Steve, his expressive face still working away and telling us he was thoroughly pleased with the way things had turned out! The quality of Theatr Iolo work is now being recognised far beyond the borders of Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan. Their production of “Are We There Yet” shown recently at the Take Off Festival in South Shields has been invited to be performed in Festivals of Children theatre in Finland and Belgium. Another production “Bison & Sons” will also be seen at the children’s international festival in Edinburgh in 2004. “Bison and Sons” was the first play that Theatre Iolo brought to the Old Library. At that time Cardiff’s campaign for European City of Culture was being run from the building. The city may have lost that bid but its continuing support for Theatre Iolo, demonstrated by the Chair of Education and the council’s head of Schools being in the audience, is something to be greatly valued. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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