(Marc Kay & Sarah Richard)
Well-made
puppets, amusing script and engaging performances sure to delight youngsters.
(Review by Caroline Smart)
We meet Nigel
Greenstuff, a barefooted, sideways-capped lisping lad who is besotted with his
magical book that contains every single story every thought of or told. He
introduces his audience to the first story which is all about three goat
brothers (Three Billy Goats Gruff)
where the youngest decides that he will brave the bridge that houses the
dreaded troll in order to reach the delicious cool grass on the mountainside.
After this
first story and before Nigel can move forward, his next-door neighbour Casey
pitches up. She is his “nemethith” (he lisps, remember?) and she’s firmly
persistent, especially when she catches sight of his magical book and decides
to steal it. She’ll only give it back if he kisses her, and even then she
reneges on the deal. In the process, the magical book is seriously damaged,
thereby completely upsetting the process of the final story.
As Nigel
and Casey, Marc Kay and Sarah Richard give engaging and sincere performances
and immediately capture the audience’s attention.
The
title refers to the fact that three stories are read - Three Billy Goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs. Hence “once upon
a time” times three! However, because the magical book is now in a state of
disarray, the fourth and final story gets deliciously skewed with The Three
Bears connecting with The Three Little Pigs as well as a dragon, The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the
North and Darth Vader!
The
script is very amusing, with ironic additions bringing the stories up to date.
Pappa Bear sleeps on a sturdy bed as advised by his chiropractor; the wolf looks
for help on his SmartPhone from Facebook friends and the Three Little Pigs, who
have sold their house to the Three Bears, google the Story Police to solve the
problem. The Wolf is air-freighted to Singapore and all ends well!
The voice-over artists on the recorded narrative feature top names such
as Michael Richard and Louise Saint-Claire as well as Bryan Hiles, Claire
Mortimer, Michael Gritten, Clinton Small, Jeremy Richard, Adam Doré and Shelby
Strange.
Words were often lost on the narrative but the new placing of speakers
will certainly help here. With the stage set up for The Reals who are currently
performing at Rhumbelow, Thrice Upon a
Time has to create its own space and this it does very effectively. The
floor is cleared of tables with chairs set in rows in front of the wide booth
which shields Kay and Richard when they operate the shadow puppetry. The
puppets are clearly defined and well made by both performers, with Sarah Richard
handling the bulk of the puppet-making.
The audience at today’s show may have been small but they certainly made
up for lack of numbers through their commitment and enthusiasm. I didn’t stay
for the workshop that takes place afterwards, but there was no lack of eager
youngsters waiting to be shown how to make puppets.
Presented
by The Actors Unemployed Company, Thrice
Upon a Time runs until December 22 at 10h00 daily. Thursday shows at 14h00.
Tickets R60 and snacks and juices will be on sale. Rhumbelow
Durban is situated in Cunningham Avenue off Bartle Road in Umbilo. There is
safe parking onsite. Booking is through Computicket or contact Roland on 082
499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net or visit www.rhumbelow.za.net
Should load-shedding get
in the way, the shows will go ahead as scheduled with an effective Plan B
firmly in place! – Caroline Smart
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