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Show: Friends for All
Society: Polka Theatre (professional productions)
Venue: Polka Theatre
Credits: Simon Mole
Type: Sardines
Author: Chris Abbott
Performance Date: 21/10/2017
Friends for All
Chris Abbott | 21 Oct 2017 17:07pm
This was an intelligent, thoughtful and considered production which kept the audience’s attention throughout. Performer and writer Simon Mole engaged with the audience from the moment they arrived, greeting them in the auditorium and chatting to them, so that they already felt they knew him when the performance began. As a result, when he simply stepped on stage and the performance began, they were immediately hushed and wanted to listen to what he had to say.
Friends for All deals with issues of self-confidence and identity, and the need to stand up for what you believe in. The issues are totally in tune with the target age-group, particularly those towards the upper end of the 5-11 years indicated on the programme. The show is co-created by Simon Mole and Peader Kirk, and entirely meets the stated aim of not being patronising; indeed, at times, the language and concepts are quite difficult for the audience to grasp, but it is a measure of the quality of writing and performance that this did not cause undue difficulties. At other times there is immediate recognition of the truth of the story, especially around the behaviour of Suzy “and the other Suzies.”
The issues are explored through the story of the unconventional Lexi and her even more unusual Grandad, who themselves appear as flickering video images on the boxes moved around by Mole as he tells their story through rap, poetry and dance. The latter produced one of the best moments of the show when the entire audience picked up a dance move and sinuously moved as one – or at least the children did, if not the parents and grandparents. For this audience at least, more of this movement interaction would have been welcomed.
At other points, the auditory interaction with the audience goes far beyond pantomime call and response, with an unforgettable moment when Simon Mole rapidly conjures up a school playground after quickly deciding on the sounds with the audience and skilfully allocating them. The resulting sound effect from the audience was stunning in its accuracy, and greatly impressed your reviewer and his partner, both of whom have spent many years in playgrounds.
The only section which seemed less effective was the description of Grandad’s radical youth in the 1960s, although even then the power of the performance kept the attention of the audience. This section was presumably included since the production was originally commissioned by the V&A to accompany an exhibition about revolution. Even then, the witty use of minimal movement in the video images of Grandad’s memories meant that there was still much for the audience to engage with, and the video design throughout (Andrew Crofts) was inventive, powerful and effective.
Friends for All is presented by Half Moon, a name to be trusted in theatre for young people both now and indeed for many years: look out for Friends For All as it tours in 2018. It is likely to lead to interesting discussions afterwards at home or school due to the issues with which it grapples and the skill and invention of writer and performer Simon Mole and director and designer Peader Kirk.
- : admin
- : 21/10/2017