THERE'S an astonishing quality and texture to the work produced by Babolin Theatre, which takes school leavers who are planning to go to drama school. The actors are very young but they work together with amazing precision.
In this production all
of the characters wear khaki and boots. They are an interchangeable army of lost children, driven by existential confusion towards religion and towards war. As the army marches the band of children tell the story of Child Farrago – a child who fell through the floorboards who had to make his way alone and to try to make sense of the world.
The company uses puppetry, mime, music and physical theatre to illuminate the theme of the search for the meaning of life. Visual imagery as well as words is used to create emotions of helplessness, confusion and fear. Farrago listens to the voices of the dead for guidance on a telephone that periodically appears from a cardboard box.
There is a wonderful physicality and assuredness among the actors and they work together beautifully to create an extraordinary atmosphere. While Child Farrago's early childhood is boisterous and funny, the laughter peters out as the central character struggles to find a meaning in life. There's a touch of incoherence in some of the esoteric ramblings, but the visual energy and the sheer beauty of the production holds everything together.
These young people are lucky to be in a production like this and we are lucky to watch it. It leaves an impression which lingers long after the actors have left the stage.
Until tomorrow. Today 4:35pm
The full article contains 283 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
