Storm Boy, MTC Sumner Theatre at the Southbank Theatre, Tuesday July 2nd 2019

Storm Boy, MTC Sumner Theatre at the Southbank Theatre, Tuesday July 2nd 2019

"Storm Boy" is a co-production by Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company and in association with Dead Puppet Society. This co-production was presented at the MTC's Sumner Theatre at the Southbank Theatre, Tuesday July 2nd 2019.  

For those new to my blog I write about the holistic experience of attending the theatre. I buy my own tickets. So if you want a re-telling of the story please refer to the links for further information or for further insights.  Note, that I may provide different links for repeated main words or phrases.  I write for my memories of what I have seen, and is more of a stream of consciousness.

This review contains spoilers.

"Storm Boy" adapted by Tom Holloway for the stage from the book by Colin Thiele.  

"Storm Boy" was directed by Sam Strong from the Queensland Theatre Company and designed by Anna Cordingley.

Congratulations to David Morton as the Puppet Designer and Associate Director.  The team of puppet makers and puppeteers were fabulous.

The puppets by Dead Puppet Society captured so much of the audience's attention. Both the design of the puppets including pelicans, pelican chicks, fish, penguins and a snake were brilliantly executed by three superb puppeteers: Ellen Bailey, Emily Burton and Drew Wilson.  They made sounds to match the movements of each pelican puppet.

Emily Burton captured the only emotional heart string for me when she caressed the Storm Boy's forehead after Mr Percival dies.  Emily Burton provided the heart and soul of this production that was so lacking in the emotional bond between any of the characters.

Direction by Sam Strong had the actors force the story down my throat.  The volumes and emotions were charged beyond a realistic level.  There was no real connection between the three main characters and the story jumped with cinematic ad breaks as the curtain came down to change the set (yet again!).

Set Design by Anna Cordingley was sensational, and was so cinematic at times that I felt ambivalence, and questioned why they adapt the book as the original film is a classic piece of Australian film making.  The curtain kept rising and falling with more sound-scapes and two mobile phones vibrating loudly on two occasions.  The front curtain became a movie screen to transport us to the next location.

The boat scenes were effective with the rocking and rolling in the water.  The floor created a lovely mirrored glaze with clouds reflecting and textured sand replicating the images of South Australia's Coorong.

I did not warm to any of the three characters, though Tony Briggs as Fingerbone Bill tried valiantly to build rapport with the other two actors.

I felt the actors were not really listening to each other, as the levels were so emotionally wrong at times.

The show dragged and was laboured.  The puppetry and puppeteers at least brought the show to life at times.

I remember looking at my watch at the 20 minute mark, then the 35 minute mark, wanting less changes of set to create a more seamless flow.

Composer and Sound Designer, Darrin Verhagen created some wonderful and atmospheric sound-scapes that at times were diminished by the forced performances.

"Storm Boy" obtained a 6/10.