I am sat on the 6th floor (yes the 6th) of The MAC in yet another performace space they have called The Facory waiting to see Chatterbox Productions latest shows ‘Little Jokes’ and I’m scratching my head wondering how anyone can put on a play based on the poems of Edward Lear. Edward Lear, if the name doesn’t sound familiar, is the guy who wrote ‘The Owl and the Pussy Cat’ and other such nonsense poems about luminous noses and jumbly girls.
The play takes us through a troubled time in the life of a ‘Anthony’, his parents are dead but he tells people they’re astronauts, he’s being bullied and he’s had to move away from home and his best friend to live with his sister. Cathan McRoberts plays Anthony with an innocence and child like wonder that makes it hard to believe he is really 22. The set is basically a clothes line with 3 sheets hanging on it in a row that various images and words are projected as we’re taken into Anthony’s dreams to the land of Nonsense where he meets Edward Lear and his creations come to life. Using a blend of live action, shadows, sound effects and inventive use of the sheets to bring this whole landscape to life. The play deals with fairly complex and emotional themes but in a wonderfully tactful and, at times, obscure way. The whole cast and crew are to be commended as they have truly produced a play for all ages that is funny, engaging and relevant. Using such simple props makes it feel like it’s being constructed by children in a playroom somewhere much as children make forts from chairs and bed sheets.
This is Chatterbox‘s third production with writer Seamus Collins and I hope it won’t be their last as the pairing is obviously working. This was an enjoyable piece of family theatre, suitable for all and an introduction to discussion with younger ones about the themes raised in a non patronising way… and so I’ll leave you with this quote that inspired the name of this play: ‘I see life as basically tragic and futile and the only thing that matters is making little jokes’ Edward Lear
You can see our previous review of Chatterbox’s performance of ‘The Pillowman’ right here
