THE FIREWORK-MAKER'S DAUGHTER. To 5 March.

London/Tour

THE FIREWORK-MAKER'S DAUGHTER
by Philip Pullman adapted by Stephen Russell

Told By An Idiot Tour to 5 March 2005
Runs 2hr 10min One interval

TICKETS: 08700 500511
Review: Timothy Ramsden 7 December at Lyric, Hammersmith

Fpost-Christmas flash, bang, wallop with the quieter human point inside the external decorations.Fireworks came from China, where gunpowder was invented. End of history lesson and into personal growth, for that's what Philip Pullman's Orient-orientated story is about, as presented in Stephen Russell's stage version. It makes for a good story with a strong point, one that without the fireworks has been handled in many centuries and cultures.

As so often in such stories, a character sets off to find something love, happiness, themselves only to travel far and wide before returning home wiser, discovering what they're searching for within themselves. Peer Gynt is a famous, and long, example. Here it's Lila, who wants to follow in father's footsteps. At first her desire to create new forms of coloured flames leads to minor disasters, then she's off to volcanic interiors to find the magic ingredient of success with flashes and bangs, the legendary Royal Sulphur.

Her first act search takes her through comic, yet character-building adventures before nearly consuming her. Then she has to face a new challenge, saving her father from execution by producing a winning entry for the pan-global fireworks contest, where she's up against German and American rivals so nationalistically stereotyped as to offer little dramatic sense of serious obstacles. There's also a serious-minded talking elephant along the way.

If serious self-discovery, and re-evaluating her father's apparent hostility to her chosen career, is what Lila's story is about, it's also considerable fun in Paul Hunter's production for Lyric Christmas regulars Told By An Idiot theatre company. Their usual physical inventiveness is to the fore from the opening scene with Amanda Lawrence's impersonation of a fizzing, then fizzled-out, fuse.

Somehow the device seems more overtly theatrical, less part of the storytelling, than in Sheffield Crucible's March 2003 production of Russell's adaptation. Though there's proper fun to be had from the comic villain quartet led by Lucian Msamati's optimistic entrepreneur, it's the quieter character of Lila (Ayesha Antoine energetic in her mission and concern for father) that holds the attention. And, when they come, the firework display; two symbolic concoctions for the German and American contestants, but for Lila the real thing.

Lila: Ayesha Antoine
Hungry Pirate/Villager 2/Lord Parakit: Tom Espiner
Lalchand/Razvani: Johannes Flaschberger
Chang/Villager 1: Charlie Folorunsho
Puffenflasch/Elephant Master/Ghost 3: Gregory Gudgen
King/Goddess of the Lake: Joanne Howarth
Little Man/Special and Particular Bodyguard/Ghost 1: Amanda Lawrence
Rambashi: Lucian Msamati
Hamlet: Malcolm Ridley
Sparkington/High Priest/Ghost 2: Jason Webb
Chulak: Mo Zainal

Director: Paul Hunter
Designer: Naomi Wilkinson
Lighting: Jon Linstrum
Sound: Nick Manning
Composer/Musical Director: Iain Johnstone
Pyrotechnics: Mike Roberts, The World Famous
Associate director: Hayley Carmichael
Assistant director: Rachel Mars

2004-12-08 15:26:35