Battersea Arts Centre, London
*****
Based on the 1955 short story by Literature Nobel Prize
winner Gabriel García Márquez, this bitter sweet fable is beautifully
reimagined with a cast of over 100 puppets by the Little Angel Theatre and
Kneehigh, working in collaboration for the first time. Created in 2011 by Little Angel to
celebrate their 50th Anniversary; this production contains all the heart, hilarity, and skill that we have come to expect from both companies.
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| Photo: Little Angel Theatre |
The set (Lyndie Wright) is that of a seaside town, closely
resembling a sleepy Cornish fishing town, where the villagers make their meagre
living from crabs. Life is simple but often difficult, especially for one
couple whose young son is close to death. This all changes when a very
old man with enormous wings crash lands in their backyard after a particularly
stormy night at sea. The villagers decide that he is an angel, a belief substantiated
by his ability to heal all manner of ailments. It is a cautionary tale which resonates well with our
consumer society; as soon as the townsfolk realise that money can be made, the
tourists move in and the satellite dishes go up. But this new prosperity is
short-lived…
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| Photo: Little Angel Theatre |
Worth a particular mention is the music composed by Ian Ross
and Benji Bower, which perfectly complements the story’s eccentric and
colourful characters. This is a perfectly formed masterclass in storytelling and
puppetry.
This production runs until 19th January 2013
For more information: http://www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/veryoldman
@battersea_arts @LittleATheatre @WeAreKneehigh
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