THE FIREBIRD: Duffield: mac, Birmingham, till 30 December
Birmingham
THE FIREBIRD: Neil Duffield
mac, Birmingham: Tks 0121 440 3838
Runs: 1h 30m, one interval, till Sunday 30 December 2001
Review: Rod Dungate, 23 November
Something a little out of the ordinary, an engaging show that lets us know any of us can become a hero
THE FIREBIRD in Neil Duffield's version shows that heroes are not born but are created through an effort of will. Ivan is a Prince: he thinks he is useless and his father thinks so too – encouraged in that view by Ivan's greedy and scheming sister. Prince Ivan forces himself to face wolves in a forest because he wants to grow into something better than useless. But then the wolf himself becomes a bit of a hero, as does the imprisoned Princess Vasilisa whom they are trying to rescue.
So Duffield's adaptation (into which he has woven other folk tales) is not as simple as it looks. It's a story for us all – and gloriously it patronises neither children nor adults. It is truly engaging: you only have to sit with 200 six year-olds to discover that.
Ben Oldfield makes a fine young Prince. He skilfully convinces us of his youth without signalling it: and he says the equivalent of a thousand words every time he uses his incredibly expressive face. Mark Carlisle creates a humorous toothless wolf that would be a delight to have round any fireplace. They prove a formidable double act when using an invisible thread too.
mac's theatre is small – which means that children are in a good relationship with the action. Helen Davies's ingenious designs for the modest space allow a whole range of magical effects - the first appearance of the Firebird herself, the appearance of Death, the Fountain of Life.
Paul Jonathan Savage, who directs, has kept the action rolling along, though occasionally the story becomes blurred when music and actors fall out of balance. The actors have to push their voices too hard and the show takes on an unwelcome coarse tone. With an attractive Russian feel added by Andy Garbi's music (the acting company play the instruments) the show offers something a little out of the ordinary.
Cast:
Princess Katooshka/ Baba Yaga/ Pedlar: Janet Bamford
Wolf/ Koschei the Deathless/ Tsar/ Pedlar: Mark Carlisle
The Firebird/ Pedlar: Ria Knowles
Prince Ivan/ Pedlar: Ben Oldfield
Princess Vasilisa/ Pedlar: Vineeta Rishi
Director: Paul Jonathan Savage
Design: Helen Davies
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Music: Andy Garbi
2001-11-23 16:31:01