Theatr Iolo |
| Theatr Iolo- Are We There Yet? , North Edinburgh Arts Centre , June 1, 2005 |
| We've all been there: either as the bored, disruptive fidget or as the adult, battling exasperation, while trying to channel rogue energies in calmer directions. Director Sarah Argent and the cast in this adorable Theatr Iolo production for the Children's International Theatre Festival – aimed at three to five-year-olds – don't just recreate the familiar scenarios where food is rejected, an afternoon snooze resisted. They use the clash of wills and moments of truce and harmony to look at relationships. Sparky music-making, games and shared make-believe bind father (Kevin Lewis), big brother (fiddle-player Oliver Wilson-Dickson) and scallywag Connie (Anna Joseph) together as a family. Ultima Thule's 1900 (for 12 to 14-year-olds) was relocated from the Gateway to the Hub. The different sight-lines do, however, mean floor-level action vanishes for all but the front rows. Some thrillingly vivid narration by Hans van Cauwenberghe, allied to Filip Peeters's skills as a puppeteer, connects us into the haunting story of a piano player who deliberately never leaves the cruise ship he was born on, in 1900. Despite the vision and commitment of this Belgian production, the philosophical conclusion clearly left the young audience uninvolved. At sea over the issues, even. |
Reviewed by: MARY BRENNAN |
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