Review: Toto Kerblammo!, Unicorn Theatre

Once again the high wizard of theatre that is Tim Crouch has made magic happen! The freesheet for his masterpiece new show Toto Kerblammo! tells us “I write for audiences, not for spectators” and that “emotion is the best vehicle for ideas”. He stunningly realises both of these statements in this excitingly affective work, using binaural technology to immerse us in sensations such that we experience the story along with the characters. As we’re seated, we’re asked to don headphones: suddenly the sound of rain palpably moves around our heads, we’re part of the action and our imaginations are instantly sparked. 

Toto is a small dog owned by a sad young girl called Effy, sent to stay with relatives after her unstable mother carelessly set fire to their house. Time and reality become muddled as, through our headphones, we first hear her mum describing an accident as she encourages Effy to wake up. Next we see Effy in traffic on a dark, rainy night, her dog urging her off the road… 

Played superbly by Peyvand Sadeghian, Effy is a troubled child, but she adores her dog. Felipe Pacheco is Toto: there’s no dog costume, just doggy emotion and behaviour, perfectly performed, and he’s the very essence of unconditional love. Which is perfect, because Effy can’t sense love anywhere else in her life. It’s not that it’s not there, but she doesn’t know how to capture or accept it – a theme familiar to many young people. Both performances are enormously sensitive and physically impressive, and the characterisations are fabulous. Effy’s neighbour, Noah, again played by Pacheco, is comedically doglike – overexcited, quizzical and loyal. His buoyant lightness gives perfect balance to Effy’s dark moods. Through Toto and Noah, Effy finally allows herself permission to talk about love.

The blunt title means we kind of know there’ll be a painful ending, so it’s then about the journey, which moves compellingly between the abstract and literal, and which we share closely with Effy as she struggles with how to love and be loved. The narrative isn’t simply related but is made thrillingly tangible, our senses heightened through sound, light and performance. We can’t be passive; our brains are stimulated to better conjure up events alongside emotions. We feel how perceptions of truth can differ and can be hard to see, as is the case for an anxious Effy, and the voice in our ear reminds us how, telling us to “Listen. Really listen” to what’s around us.

Lily Arnold’s minimal design allows the imagination space to apply its own interpretations; a shaggy white rug covering the floor and neutral costuming. A blast of colour from Noah’s puffy coat and positive personality brilliantly disrupts Effy’s pallid, pained world. Meanwhile, Will Monks’ clever use of lighting dramatically creates new locations and atmospheres, veering between the undefined confusion and the bounding reality that exist within Effy’s experience.

This is a breathtaking, clever piece of work, flawlessly executed. Nevertheless, it’s a big ask for 9-13 year olds sitting still for 75 minutes in a dark room, whilst additionally actively creating the experience in their bodies through hearing, resonance and imagination. A couple of the youngsters near me removed their headphones several times for a break. Possibly employing more scenes where the audience’s physical response is laughter would help give breaths, keeping energy levels up throughout. 

That being said, Toto Kerblammo! is an enormously respectful, brave offering to young people that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes and emotions, instead helping to articulate them in new and powerful ways. It’s a shining message about finding support, learning to understand love in all its forms and keeping it carefully within you always. 

Written and Directed by: Tim Crouch
Designed by: Lily Arnold
Sound Designed and Composed by: Helen Skiera
Movement Directed by: Ingrid Mackinnon
Lighting Design by: Will Monks
Associate Sound Designer & Sound Operator: Deanna H. Choi
Sound Associate: Mike Winship

Toto Kerblammo! is aimed at 9 years and above and above and runs at the Unicorn Theatre until Sunday 3 November. Further information and booking details can be found here.