In order to appreciate the full impact of Andersen’s Inkwell, the current offering by Geordie Productions, I took my seven-year-old friend Massimo along. He is quite literate and had never before gone to the theatre. The D.B. Clarke is just the right size theatre for a first outing, and I thought this play was a perfect introduction.
I was enchanted from the first snowflake and the staging, lighting and costumes were exquisite. The delightful Victorian scenes and the absolute theatricality of the moments on stage worked a magic web of wonder. I was charmed by the device of the student, the book and the goblin and everything worked.
Tristan Lalla was a perfect emperor and his lack of clothing was truly hilarious. Amanda Kellock and Daniel Brochu were simply divine as the weaver swindlers, and their comment on contemporary fashion obsessions was a social zinger of a critique. How lovely to see Hans Christian Andersen still hitting the mark. Zach Fraser was haunting as Andersen, and charming as the student who would rather read than eat.
Susan Glover got many a laugh as the grocer’s wife. Her panic and distress as the elder minister were haunting. Kellog’s little match girl was minimalist and genuinely touching.
Micheline Chevrier is a seasoned and inspired director and there were many breath-taking moments in this production which attest to her finesse and talent. Ana Cappelluto designed with pure magic and the back lit moments were worth the price of admission.
When the delightfully elongated Hans Christian Andersen cut out his final snow flake and the house lights came up, I turned to Massimo. He was confused. The weaving of so many stories is just too much for a seven-year-old, albeit a very literate one. He got the Emperor’s new clothes and he sort of understood some of what the student was doing, but the tongue persona and the talking cash register were a little beyond his grasp. He enjoyed the staging, and was fascinated by the fact that those were real honest to goodness live people up there on a real stage.
Story weaving works when it is kept really simple; otherwise we are led “Into the Woods” and the script is really aiming at sophistication some of the children who were sitting near us just didn’t have. I loved the production and recommend it for children over eight, and all adults who love theatre.
Andersen’s Inkwell by Gina Wilkinson is at the D.B. Clarke Theatre until May 9. Reservations: 514 845 9810. For more details, check out the Geordie Productions site.
