This
newly adapted play of 'Gulliver’s Travels' is loosely based on the four books of
Johnathan Swift. However, this stage play aims to fit Gulliver’s array of adventures
into 90 minutes and make it fun, up-to-date, and accessible for children. The
Unicorn Theatre is an amazing venue where performances are aimed at children
and families, bringing theatre into the lives of children who would never have
experienced live performance by working closely with local disadvantaged schools.
It is always such a pleasure to come here and see the joy and wonder on the faces
of so many children in the audience.
Where
Swift aimed to rile up his readers and take swipes at society, this little gem
speaks to the innocent. It is hard to imagine how the stories of miniature
Lilliputians and a land of giants can be conveyed on the Unicorn stage but
what a success this was. Many miniature sets, the use of live video, stage
technicians, lighting and dynamic acting brought the story to life. All at
a fast pace and props and sets moving in and out around the stage like an
intricate dance manoeuvre.
To get the audience involved from the beginning we watched the four actors, Mae Munuo (playing Grace/Gulliver), Sam Swann, Leah Brotherhead and Jacoba Williams entertain us with their energetic dancing, groovy music and a video camera. Filming themselves and us the audience, encouraging everyone to interact.
We
started our story in the home of Grace, who I imagined to be a teenager. In her
desperate need to escape the hard reality of modern-day life full of chores and
demands, finds herself on a ship on the high seas. Like Swift’s story Gulliver
is shipwrecked during a storm and ends up washed onto the shore of Lilliput.
Some very clever visual storytelling brings Gulliver into this world as a
giant and the other three actors as the small Lilliputians.
Gulliver
is sent by the Emperor of the Lilliputians to meet with their enemies, the Blefuscudians,
in an attempt to enslave them because of the way they eat their eggs! Definitely
not true to the books, and if you think this play will be like the Hollywood
film version with Ted Danson, then you will be surprised at how different it
is. Not sugary sweet but a well written and modern production, relevant to the
21st century.
Then we are transported off
to the land of giants, where Gulliver is captured and made to perform her singing
and dancing, everyday, like some circus sideshow, for the Queen.
These are a great team of
actors, who bounce off each other and are completely in sync, are a joy to
watch. I had previously seen Mae Munuo and Sam Swann perform in The Bolds at
the Unicorn where they also performed at break-neck speed.
It
was wonderful watching the younger members of the audience joining in. Some
thinking it was like a pantomime. “Look behind you!” one even shouted; and “that’s
terrible!” as a comment on the dancing taking place on the stage. All this
added to the delight of the show and brought a few laugh-out-loud moments.
The original Swift stories
were written over 300 years ago, and designed to poke fun, be satirical and
absurd. Lulu Raczka has put her own spin on Swift’s controversial storytelling
and produced a gem of a play. Suitable for all ages and such clever ideas that
are portrayed with some modern video techniques. Well done to Jack Phelan for
the video design, Jess Bernberg and Joshua Gadsby for lighting; all essential
in bringing the whole performance to life. A remarkable triumph for all
involved. A good excuse to get back into London, take your family and enjoy
live performance in an incredible theatre space, with a very good ticket
price.
Reviewer - Penny Curran
on - 16/3/22
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