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Outland – 2012 Adelaide Fringe

 

Presented by Guy Masterson's Centre for International Theatre (C.I.T.) in association with Theatre Tours International, Jethro Compton Ltd. And Belt Up Theatre
Reviewed Sunday 26th February 2012.

It should come as no surprise that, in Outland, things are outlandish, especially knowing that this wondrous realm is the creation of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his nom de plume, Lewis Carroll. His famous Wonderland, where Alice had her adventures, is but one of the places that he created. His last, and lesser known, two volume work, Sylvie and Bruno, along with his nonsense poems such as , The Hunting of the Snark and Jabberwocky provide the basis for much of the Outland action, juxtaposed against the real world, where Dodgson is nearing the end of his life. This mirrors the books, where the real world, Outland and Fairyland are the locations for the story.

Dominic Allen, who wrote the script, plays Charles Dodgson, sick and nearing death, spending time with two of the characters from the novels: Dr. Arthur Forester, who is caring for him, and Lady Muriel Orme. He is also his younger self, and Mein Herr, the Professor in Outland. Jethro Compton and Serena Manteghi play Arthur and Muriel, as well as Bruno and Sylvie, the fairy children of the Warden of Outland. Directed by Joe Hufton, this is a mixture of nostalgic fun tinged with sadness, and he keeps a fine eye on the ever changing pace needed to make each segment distinct and have the right emphasis.

As the doors open, the audience is welcomed and ushered in to a small room, the walls lined with assorted chairs and furniture, with a number of cushions on the floor for those that are too slow to get to a chair. This cluttered space, suggesting a Victorian drawing room, eventually becomes all of the locations, through the skill of the performers and the imaginations of the audience members. Be early and try not to sit near the door, however, or you will find yourself looking directly into the spotlight, which makes it hard to watch the action.

Dominic Allen's script draws considerably on text from the works of Lewis Carroll, seamlessly adding his own dialogue that captures the style so well that it is often hard to tell who wrote what. It not only provides a rich source for the inventiveness of the cast, both vocally and physically, but also allows for some audience involvement but, don't worry, it it nothing unpleasant. Three lucky people, for instance, get to join the crew as they sail their boat in pursuit of the Jabberwock.

This remarkable young trio take on all of the roles, switching between them in the bat of an eye. From the absurdity of the many characters in Outland, to the poignancy of kneeling at the feet of the ailing Dodgson, they convincingly fill every role with a three dimensional character. This piece is a great example of how theatre should be; interesting, informative, entertaining but, most of all, captivating and totally absorbing.

Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.

Adelaide Fringe – Outland
CIT Adelaide – Outland

Venue: Tiny Lounge, Adelaide College of the Arts (AC Arts, TAFE), 39 Light Square, Adelaide
Season: To 18th March 2012
Duration: 60min
Tickets: $19 to $21
Bookings: FringeTix 1300-FRINGE (1300 374 643), FringeTix outlets, or online

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