BIRDBOY. To 7 May.

Young People

BIRDBOY
by Nick Wood

Roundabout Theatre and Action Transport To 7 May 2005 mainly school performances
Runs 1hr 5min No interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 March

Satisfyingly complex yet clear play showing the difficulties and rewards of a friendship.Seeing this co-production between Nottingham Playhouse education company Roundabout and Ellesmere Port's Action Transport theatre shortly after a dance-drama for young people in Leeds and a primary school fairy-tale piece from Clwyd Theatr Cymru incorporating a range of theatrical styles, it was easy to find Nick Wood's word-based, theme-oriented and realistic play somewhat vieux chapeau. Yet on its own terms, as audiences will be seeing it, here is a strong piece that explores a number of avenues.

Aimed at upper primary pupils, the play uses a warrior legend as the spine binding an offsite relationship between Tim and Eddie. There are strains in both boys' home life. In Tim's case it's the suspicions of affluent and ambitious parents.

Life's tougher for Eddie, abandoned by Mum and pretty much by a dad who's never outgrown the teenage irresponsibility of games, guitar and going on the open road with a rock group. He could easily be the bully who torments Tim's life and there are initially elements of this. But Wood shows the capacity Eddie has to move - tentatively at first, always keeping the option of retreating if he's rejected - towards friendship.

He may steal Tim's book about the glorious battles of the area's past, but he reads it fascinated and opens up his concealed den to the new friend he's only recently been challenging for territory.

Caroline Thaw's set leaves the floorspace for domestic scenes, the raised ramps forming both the boys' free-running areas and the contrasting confinement of the den which is a place of both security and, later, danger for Eddie. Director Kevin Dyer keeps the action moving, and the performers playing adults make the parental roles distinct.

Eddie's Mum only appears once briefly towards the end, leaving Cerianne Roberts to focus on Tim's Mum, concerned for her son at his new school, picking up on his unexpressed anxiety while unsure of her husband. Tim Barton makes clear the wide difference between the busy formality of Tim's businessman father and Eddie's dad with his casual lack of purpose.

The main attention's on the boys. Gareth Cooper shows Tim's naivety, nervous defiance under attack and eagerness to form a friendship, while Paul Dodds provides an outstanding picture of a personality soured into defensive agression and sullen conformity by rejection and authority, yet able to bloom under the twin stimuli of imagination and a friend's genuine interest.

Eddie: Paul Dodds
Tim: Gareth Cooper
Tim's Mum/Eddie's Mum/Teacher: Cerianne Roberts
Tim's Dad/Eddie's Dad: Tim Barton

Director: Kevin Dyer
Designer: Caroline Thaw
Composer: Craig Vear
Fight director: Kate Waters

2005-03-26 12:12:11