THE TRAGIC AND DISTURBING TALE OF LITTLE LUPIN To 31 October.
Bristol.
THE TRAGIC AND DISTURBING TALE OF LITTLE LUPIN
by Luci Gorell Barnes.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre, King Street, Bristol To 31 October 2009.
Runs 50min No interval.
Review: Rupert Bridgwater 28 October.
Spooky story of a hairy girl.
We are ushered into a corridor in the Old Vic by a sinister trio, a cross between vintage cinema usherettes and the wolf as Little Red Riding Hood’s grannie, they welcome us into their pack.
We howl, yelp and growl to order, doing as we are told for fear of looking out of place or showing ourselves up. Or being gobbled up.
Soon, we are moved to another cellar or corridor. Where’s this all leading, and when will the story begin? We’re shown a baby wolf pushed around in a pram. We all hold hands and then a piece of rope. Something doesn’t seem to make sense. Instead of the story of Little Lupin we are being groomed to become members of a fairytale wolf pack. It’s all slightly dotty, a bit creepy, even a bit sexual.
Finally we are shown into a tent on the theatre’s roof garden for a short animated film. At last, we see the story promised. Lasting only a few minutes, it is an animated fairytale depicting the childhood and adolescence of Lupin. I’m not sure it is tragic as nothing particularly tragic happens. And she isn’t little. Lupin grew into a hairy girl, who didn’t fit in at school and whose parents don’t understand her. She is thrown to the wolves by other children. The wolves adopt her.
Eventually she runs away to join a circus. It’s quirky, clever and extremely amusing. The animation has an attractively simple feel, and there’s something slightly magical about being in an audience of only a dozen or so people. In particular Ali Hughes’ uneven grown-up vowels and off-beat voice gives the film a curiously hypnotic tone. It’s neat and novel. And that’s that; high on atmosphere but low in content.
The perambulation around the spaces of the theatre didn’t link up enough with the final film, leaving a slight muddle as to what it was all about. Exclusion? Bullying? Belonging? Dark fairytales? Being hairy? Take your pick.
But the presentation is excellent, and the unusual show leaves you feeling you’re experiencing something new – if a little incomplete.
Performers: Ed Rapley, Brenda Waite, Richard Hughes.
Additional voices: Daniella Hughes.
Music: Richard Hughes.
Animation: Luci Gorell Barnes.
Post production: Dani Landau, Liz Purnell.
Voice work: Shirley Pagna.
Narration: Ali Hughes.
Dramaturg: Sarah Dickensen.
2009-11-01 22:10:12