Christmas is a time when theatre suddenly gears itself up for a younger audience. There’s a whole spectrum of shows to choose from - be it panto, dance or a ‘straight play’ - so much so that it’s all rather overwhelming and a bit of a gamble. So, after the success of the other Philip Pullman stage adaptation - His Dark Materials at the National - this version of Pullman's The Firework-Maker's Daughter, seen earlier this year in Sheffield, may seem like a fairly safe bet.
In truth, the tale told here is much more simplistic than the Northern Lights Trilogy. Lila, the eponymous daughter, wants to be a firework-maker like her father, but to do so she has to go on a journey, one that turns out to be more important than its ultimate goal. Both of Pullman’s narratives have a strong moral tone, but here the story is an allegory, plain and simple. As a result, the real interest is less in the story itself and more in its conjuring. And who better able to rise to the challenge than the pioneering Told By An Idiot?
Over the past 11 years since it was founded by Paul Hunter, John Wright and Hayley Carmichael, Told By An Idiot has developed a very particular, idiosyncratic and innovative mode of telling stories. Here, Hunter directs and brings the company’s distinct voice to Pullman's piece. Elephants, tigers and even fire appears out of nowhere, but there’s no technical wizardry involved; everyday objects, other props, come together to form something new. There's little or no attempt to hide the ‘cogs’ of how these things work, which succeeds in engaging and delighting the inquisitive young audience all the more.
That and the energetic playful performances. The production is very well cast. Ayesha Antoine sparkles as Lila while Mo Zainal is the charming if hapless sidekick Chulak. Lucian Msamati is Rambashi and his team, who are like the four stooges, supplying giggles for old and young audience members alike. All the performances have a madcap energy and a true sense of the playful that's positively enchanting.
On press night, the slick and organised chaos that marks Told By An Idiot out as a company wasn’t quite as organised as it ought to have been, which meant there were moments where the drive of the play faltered. But this is a kink that I’m sure will be quickly ironed out, and in spite of it, the show went off with a bang.
- Hannah Kennedy (reviewed at London's Lyric Hammersmith)
