by Chris Dickins
Spirit Theatre.
At Polyglot Theatre
14 -30 November, 1996
Reviewed by KH around
22 Nov 1996
'Ruffhouse
Burminglsey Manufacturings. Drop a few dozen letters of the manufacturer
written on his back and you are left with 'Rufus Bummings'.
Rufus, the title character of Chris Dickins' play the
Mysteries of Rufus Bummings, is a wooden carnival soldier who hangs from a
child's mobile. The child is the warm, vibrant but severely intellectually
disabled Ruth.
This is her story told through the eyes of Rufus, her loyal
soldier, friend and historian. Rufus awaits his fate in Ruth's parents' garage
sale, along with his brothers Ricco, Ricco, Ricco and Keith.
Dickins candid, poetic and poignant writing is evident in
this monodrama performed by Bradley Hulme and directed by Dickins himself.
Hulme presents the story sympathetically with an engaging directness as he
gambols about on stage, shifting between Rufus and Ruth, her parents and
friends at her special school where she paints everything made of paper.
It is a bitter-sweet tragedy. Ruth is shocked to realise she
is "a creature". Rufus is aware before she is that she is stared at
and scares others. Her home is with the other special kids. "Last one in
the bus is normal!"
She finally declares to her remote parents that she has ten
wishes before she dies which include a new dress, going to the ballet ("I
didn't think they could kick you out just for laughing.") and Scienceworks
and putting Rufus's letters back on his coat.
The life-size carnival carousel dolls and horses, designed
by Artery, are delightful amongst the garage detritus of Ruth's family's life.
The fragmented structure is initially confusing but the second half clarifies
much of the narrative. There are some awkward moments theatrically but the
emotional tale eventually takes over and leads us gently to its conclusion.
KATE HERBERT
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