By Guus Kuijer, Adpted by Richard Tulloch
By Melbourne Theatre Company
MTC Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, until Dec 22, 2013
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: ****
By Melbourne Theatre Company
MTC Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, until Dec 22, 2013
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: ****
Review also published in Herald Sun online on Mon Dec2, 2013, and later in print. KH
The Book Of Everything is
a challenging and entertaining family show that balances light and darkness,
choosing not to underestimate children’s capacity to cope with tough issues
such as fear, violence and bullying.
Eccentric nine-year old,
Thomas Klopper (Matthew Whittet), deals with his fear of family violence by
escaping into a private, fantastical world that he records in his Book of
Everything.
Thomas lives in 1951
post-war Amsterdam where, to combat his isolation, he conjures his own magical
world in which he sees tropical fish in the Dutch canals, a frog plague in his
street, and even chats with Jesus who is vague but friendly.
Richard Tulloch’s
Australianised script captures the serious issues, harsh realism, fanciful
visions and humour of Guus Kuijer’s children’s book from which it is adapted.
Thomas’s emotive story of
facing his fears, confronting bullies with a wall of happiness and never
surrendering, echoes the Dutch Resistance to Nazi Occupation that is remembered
by his parents (Peter Carroll, Claire Jones), sister (Alison Bell) and
neighbour (Julie Forsyth).
Thomas is an odd kind of
anti-hero, who wishes biblical plagues upon his violent father to protect his
vulnerable mother, then, in a poignant moment, defies his father by asserting
that his single ambition is to be happy when he grows up.
Neil Armfield directs
imaginatively, creating a playful, energetic production that tells a powerful
story with humour, capable performances and simple but ingenious theatrical
devices.
He breaks the ‘fourth
wall’ by having Thomas and other actors directly address the audience,
delivering narration and characters’ personal observations.
Armfield’s ensemble
production displays the mechanics of theatre, with actors perching on stools
when not in scenes, providing sound effects, and changing scenes by moving the
pages of the enormous picture book (Kim Carpenter) that replicates Thomas’s
Book of Everything.
Iain Grandage’s lively,
onstage music underscores dialogue and action, establishes location and period,
and provides atmosphere.
Whittet is playfully
awkward and introverted as Thomas, embodying the geeky outsider who seeks
solace in his imagination, and friendship in a disabled teenage girl (Andrea
Demetriades) and the quirky, old neighbour (Forsyth).
The inimitable Forsyth
deserves special accolades for her impeccable comic timing and hilarious
depiction of Mrs. Van Amersfoort, the weird, cackling witch, oddball hoarder
and indomitable survivor of Nazi occupation.
Carroll is compelling and
brittle as Thomas’s severe and self-righteous father, a misguided religious
fanatic and control freak who feels justified in hitting his mild-mannered wife
and son when he cannot control them.
Genevieve Picot is feisty
as rebellious Aunt Pie, John Leary is cheerfully casual as Jesus, and Claire
Jones is gentle and resilient as Thomas’s long-suffering mother.
This play provides no
trite solutions to social or family problems but is simultaneously confronting
and funny – but maybe it is best suited to kids over 8 or 9.
By
Kate Herbert
Director: Neil Armfield
Cast
Alison Bell (Margot)
Peter Carroll (Father
Klopper/Bumbiter)
Andrea Demetriades (Eliza)
Julie Forsyth (Mrs Van
Amersfoort)
Iain Grandage (Musician)
Claire Jones (Mother
Klopper),
John Leary (Jesus)
Genevieve Picot (Auntie
Pie)
Matthew
Whittet (Thomas Klopper)
Assistant Director Eamon Flack;
Set & Costume Designer Kim Carpenter
Composer Iain Grandage;
Lighting Designer Nigel Levings
Sound Designer Stephen
Francis
Choreographer
Julia Cotton