Marlin
By Damien Millar
Presented by Arena Theatre Company and
Melbourne Theatre Company
Director – Christian Leavesley, Designer – Marg Horwell, Lighting Designer – Rachel Burke,
Sound Designer Jethro Woodward, Composer – Wang-Zheng Ting, Puppetry - Rob Matson
The Lawler
September 25 to 11 October - $25 a ticket
Very much like a handsomely presented
picture book, Marlin is a series of stunning
images that come to life on stage through the stylish design of Marg Horwell. It is the story of a Grandfather and
Granddaughter working together to save the life of a Marlin and navigate the
difficulties and dangers they encounter at sea in a small boat.
Christopher Bunsworth plays Thomas Grogan a
great crusty, old, sometimes a bit cantankerous Grandfather and Ashlea Pyke his
lively Granddaughter Billy. Their
relationship is not idealized but quirky and real and both fragile and strong. Jacob Williams is the puppeteer he also plays
a benevolent ghostly presence and an eccentric nun to great effect.
The Marlin puppet itself is glistens with
life (Rob Matson).
Humour abounds - the kind of humour that
kids like. Ashlea Pyke as Billy is
particularly cheeky and wacky at times and convincingly young. In this intense and riveting hour of
entertainment there is also suspense and danger and heaps and heaps of foam.
Marlin
is superbly lit by Rachel Burke and underscored
with music composed by Wang-Zheng Ting that is moving and directly affirming of
the emotional content and poetic form of the whole.
The subject matter undoubtedly surrounds
grief and loss – so kids recently bereaved could probably do with a little guidance and the opportunity to debrief after seeing this excellent work.
Top Notch Theatre for Kids!
Suzanne Sandow
(For Stage Whispers)
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