ICE!: Hutchins: Moby Duck, touring till May 2002

ICE!: Guy Hutchins
Moby Duck: Touring till end of May 2002: 0121 242 0400
Runs: 1h no interval
Review: Rod Dungate, mac, 21 October 2001

The performance is simplicity itself, but the result is far from simple: a cultural hybrid it stands as evidence of the riches to be found in our modern, culturally diverse, island.

ICE! as a performance is simplicity itself – a storyteller (Guy Hutchins), a dancer (Chitraleka Bolar) and a musician (S V Balakrishna.) The result, however, is far from simple: it's an exciting and haunting cultural hybrid that stands as evidence of the riches to be found in our modern, culturally diverse island.

The story is The Snow Queen crossed with tales from India and Tibet: it is set in India. Geeta, a mighty feisty young woman, sees her best friend Krishan kidnapped by the evil Snow Queen. Being a thoroughly modern lass she sets out to rescue him from the Queen's castle, meeting on the way a rat and a crow and having to fight off geniis, snakes and a Crow Queen.

Hutchins, relating the story, mixes a fine lyrical quality with a matter-of-factness that pulls no punches. Bolar illustrates and expands the story with marvellously flexible dancing and a highly expressive face that leaves us in no doubt what characters are feeling.

All the characters are portrayed by these two performers, aided only by beautiful masks, sometimes worn, sometimes held on the hand – they are created by puppet maker, Craig Denston. Dancer, Bolar, easefully becomes and convinces as Ice Queen, snake, bird – nothing seems beyond her reach. To see exactly how riveting economy can be watch these performers create a rat just with their hand – and then talk with it.

This is a scary story and Hutchins enables the young audience members to confront and conquer their fears. At the end of the show Hutchins comes to speak with the children letting them see at close quarters the masks he has used.

Storyteller: Guy Hutchins
Dancer: Chitraleka Bolar
Musician: S V Balakrishna

2001-10-23 20:53:25