FABRIK: THE LEGEND OF M RABINOWITZ. To 8 March.
London.
FABRIK: THE LEGEND OF M RABINOWITZ
Little Angel Theatre To 8 March 2009.
Runs 1hr No interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 8 March.
The well-told tale of a tailor.
Among the spring season of adult shows visiting Islington’s Little Angel Puppet Theatre, is this from Wakka Wakka Productions, presented by The Jewish Community Centre for London. It’s the story, comic at first then moving through fantasy to the tragic, of Moritz Rabinowitz, a Polish Jew who set up shop as a tailor in Norway. His rules of business, described by the distinctively featured puppet-head that forms Rabinowitz’s presence here, involved treating his staff humanely, trying to keep his work and wife separate (not, in the event, easy), and being genuinely respectful towards customers.
An ideal citizen, in fact, whose dreams bring the first note of anxiety, before his head, which has flown through a series of fantasies, returns to reality with a brand new clothing factory. Then the Nazis arrive, and Moritz is caught in their spotlight, after refusing a last-minute escape by boat. The man who began this show with a seriously humane song about his business ideals ends singing in a Nazi camp show.
His act follows a fellow prisoner’s comic routine, filled with grave puns on being an inmate, as a human puppeteer in mask and guard’s uniform adds appreciative or threatening comments.
Three puppeteers manipulate the puppet Rabinowitz, his worker, his wife and others. Dressed in dark clothes, covered in full-length coats, they are able to be present when necessary without distracting attention from the puppets, whose voices they create.
The horrors of war are repeatedly displayed in theatre and cinema. The particular contribution of Fabrik is its focus on someone whose benevolent humanity is crushed by the Nazi jackboot – or, at least, is kicked senseless by a couple of empty boots which are swung at his prostrate figure.
The piece ignores Rabinowitz the anti-Nazi campaigner and journalist, and therefore a particular target for the German invaders. It remains a moving piece that creates its impact through the humanity of a puppet rather than through piled-up horrors.
Other shows in the Little Angel season include silent animation The Adventures of Prince Achmed with a new score 19-22 March 8pm, King Pest and Night Flyer from The Paper Cinema and Kora, adapted from Edgar Allan Poe, 25-29 March 7.30pm & 9pm and Lost & Found Theatre’s Orpheus in the Underworld 28 April-3 Mat 8pm. Full details: www.littleangeltheatre.com
2009-03-08 23:34:34