Presented by Holden Street Theatres & Les Enfants Terribles Theatre Company
Reviewed Wednesday 22nd February 2012
This is a cautionary tale, warning against telling tall tales, the fault in a young girl named Tilly that has unpleasant consequences for her. Within the overarching tale are several examples of the tall tales that she tells, themselves cautionary. The tales are based on those written by Oliver Lansley and illustrated and designed by Sam Wyer. One is reminded, of course, of Shockheaded Peter, the 1998 musical based on the book of cautionary tales, Der Struwwelpeter (literally, Shaggy Peter), written in 1845 by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman.
At the start, there are several large shapes covered with dust sheets on stage. Once the dust sheets are removed they reveal the five white faced performers, Oliver Lansley, Nicole Lewis, Matthew Ian Kelly, Tomas Gisby and Rachel Dawson, along with a collection of musical instruments to the audience's right and a large cart to their left.
What follows is a combination of song, dance, physical theatre, puppetry, and even a voice over narration by Dame Judi Dench. There is an air of circus, and the influence of Brecht is clearly felt. The tale of the tail of Tilly grows, as her lies and stories get bigger and more bizarre. There is the tale of Tumb, and his tum, and his mum. His tum takes control and he insists on eating more and more until there is only one thing left. We hear of Beatrice, who has a beehive hairstyle and who talks incessantly about herself until only bees will listen, and even they get bored.
Thingummyboy likes to stay in the background, watching and listening without getting involved. He is happy to be ignored and overlooked, until he finds that even his parents overlook him. There is Linena, who is dissatisfied with her appearance and reinvents herself, with a more elaborate wardrobe. Mingus, accompanied by plucked cello, no doubt referencing the great bebop era jazz bass player, Charlie Mingus, is an outcast due to his personal cleanliness, or lack thereof.
Along with all this there is a lot of interaction between the performers, swapping instruments, and occasionally trying to steal each other's roles. Although this is a very dark comedy musical piece, the biggest laughs came from the youngest member of the audience sitting down the front, indicating that it not limited to an adult audience. With its blend of light, sound, music, colour and action there is plenty to draw the attention and yet, for some reason, it seems just a little long, and perhaps dropping one of the stories might be worth considering.
That aside, this is a fast paced and engaging piece that, it seems, appeals to all ages, from the very young, who relate to the puppets and physical side, to adults, who also engage with the text.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.
Adelaide Fringe
Holden Street Theatres
Les Enfants Terribles
Venue: The Arch, Holden Street Theatres, 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh
Season: Thurs 23rd to 18th March 2012
Duration: 75min
Tickets: $10 to $25.50
Bookings: FringeTix 1300-FRINGE (1300 374 643), FringeTix outlets, or online
More News
