(Cara Roberts. Pic by Jonathan Burton)
The ending of this piece by Michael Taylor-Broderick is
sheer theatrical genius. (Review by Barry Meehan)
Seen at the 2018 Hilton Arts Festival, “The King of Broken Things” created and directed by Michael
Taylor-Broderick and performed by Cara Roberts, is a truly mesmerising piece of
theatre, taking the audience on an incredible 45 minute-long journey, coming to
an end far too soon, in my humble opinion.
The premise of the show is that everything broken can be
fixed – inanimate objects, promises and even people.
Cara Roberts (daughter of two of South Africa’s greatest
actors – Ian Roberts and Michelle Botes) draws us into her enthralling
performance as a bullied child who finds an outlet as “the King”, fixing,
repairing and finding alternative uses for a plethora of broken objects that
litter the stage. Taught by “Dad”, who has been absent for many years (we never
find out why), “the King” poses many questions about life and family, and
anxiously awaits the return of “Dad”, whose departure caused “Mom” to break.
I wouldn’t dream of revealing more of the plot, or what “The
King” builds on stage to await the return of “Dad”, but suffice it to say that
the ending of this piece by Michael Taylor-Broderick is sheer theatrical
genius! And we mere mortals would do well to dwell more on the magic words –
imagine, believe and dream.
If you get the chance to see this wonderful production,
don’t dare miss it! – Barry Meehan
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