THE SILVER
SWORD
Sell
a Door
at the New
Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
04.11.2015
An
ingenious adaptation of Ian Serrailler's much loved classic. Four
refugee children make their perilous way across a Europe torn apart
by war. The Balicki children are seeking their parents; they somewhat
reluctantly agree to their friend Jan tagging along.
Migrant
children fleeing conflict are sadly not unknown to today's young
readers. There are many explicit parallels in Susie McKenna's stage
version, including a heartfelt plea for us all to shoulder some of
the responsibility for the welfare of these vulnerable victims of
war.
But
the human, often amusing, story does not feel like an appeal or a
homily. It's given its structure by a rag-tag company of strolling
players, actor/musicians who feel part of a tradition much older than
Europe's political borders. “There's a place beside the fire for
the teller of the tale,” they sing. And the tale they decide to
tell is a story of hope, a risky adventure at the end of which “the
luckiest girl in Europe” does indeed find the father and mother she
lost in Warsaw.
Strong
performances from a mostly young cast. Rachel Young is Ruth,
struggling to keep her siblings together on the journey. And Tom
Mackley is outstanding as
Jan, a wayward, light-fingered liability on their quest.
The
many adult roles are doubled. Nathan Turner is excellent as the
kindly Ivan,
Jim and Joe, “the optimistic voice of the occupation”. Alexander
Knox plays Adam, as well as Major Hargreaves, whose Coward-ly solo
number is a delightful pastiche, leading into a trio of “plunder”
quartets, in which he manages to join the ranks of the Andrews
Sisters.
Princess
of the Brazen Mountain is another lovely song, led by local favourite
Julian Harries, who plays Joseph, the father, amongst other roles.
The music, by Steven Edis, suggests the folk tradition of Poland, and
flows naturally from the narrative.
Back
projection of historical photographs reminds us of the real people
displaced by the fighting. Music
and lighting combine to give an epic, expressionistic air
to key moments.
The
improvisatory feel is enhanced by the objets
trouvés animal
puppets by Scott Brooker: Ludwig
the rag rug dog, Bistro the chimp, Jimpy the kitchen utensil
cockerel.
A
moving production, using the rough magic of theatre and story-telling
to bring a gripping yarn to new audiences, and to remind us all of
the innocent victims of war. Not all of whom can share the happy
ending Serrailler gives to Ruth, Edek, Jan and Bronia.
