Some fun features and a talented cast in a fledging production that’s not quite in full flight.Summary
Rating
Good
How exciting! This summer at Polka Theatre, the amazing Sir Lenny Henry’s book The Boy With Wings is adapted by Arvind Ethan David into a play for ages 7-12 years, with some top talent amongst the cast and creatives. It’s the story of Tunde (Adiel Boboye), a boy whose upbringing with an overprotective mother and an absent father has left him anxious and risk adverse. Peculiarly, unlike most mums, Ruth (Mia Jerome) has encouraged him to stay in the house playing video games and eating snacks, rather than being out with his friends doing Parkour. We soon discover there’s more to his story than first appears, when a talking cat from outer space seeks his help to stop a war between the planets of the cats and the birds. Sounds great!
And this is indeed a fun idea that offers up multiple opportunities for epic sci-fi action, themes of anxiety, friendship, found family, helping your community, and courage in the face of adversity. There’s a strong cast, including a really solid performance by Jerome as Ruth, delivering a wonderful thread of convincing normality that makes the absurdity of the situation that much funnier. There’s also a terrific performance by Jessica Murrain as Juba the cat queen, who speaks almost entirely in iambic pentameter throughout, and some great, vibe-y music from Khalil Madovi, full of energy and emotion. Gillian Tan’s lighting and video design are awesome, at times filling the space with cosmic wonder, and there are some epic costume designs by Laura McEwan.
Yet, somehow, the show feels like it’s not quite ready to fly. There’s a lot of exposition – much of it in poetry – which is a great deal to keep up with just to set up the story. This demands an initial effort from the audience without much punch or payoff, so by the interval we’ve worked hard for little reward. There’s even the need for a plot recap in the second half to ensure it is spelled out, which is telling. The storytelling itself isn’t always supported well enough by the action, with ideas of risk taking and hazard played out weakly – often lost by sending the characters offstage at key moments. This includes the final climax being merely hinted at rather than visible as some sort of thrilling action, acted or projected. The conflict between characters verges on being panto at times, so there’s no presence of jeopardy to give texture, just mild banter. The whole is based on the work of a world-class comedian, yet it only really delivers light humour throughout.
It’s early days for the show, but the current lack of continuity between scenes (and also between songs) leaves gaps that mean the tension flags. Set change blackouts are overly long, and musical motifs would work wonders in linking together both the scenes and musical numbers, giving consistency. The role of the audience is at times confusing: pauses occasionally indicate they’re perhaps supposed to applaud, but it’s not entirely clear; some direct address suddenly pops up awkwardly from nowhere when it’s not been signalled; and a clunkily instigated artificial standing ovation feels undeservedly self-congratulatory. However, much of this could easily be addressed as the run goes on, and there’s enough here to make for an improved experience with some dramaturgical tweaks.
This is a show with a great premise, some excellent content and the potential to really fly, but currently it’s still waiting to take off and soar.
Based on the book by: Sir Lenny Henry
Adapted for stage by: Arvind Ethan David
Songs by: Arvind Ethan David and Khalil Madovi
Directed by: Daniel Bailey
Set & Costume Design by: Laura McEwen
Composer & Sound Design by: Khalil Madovi
Lighting & Video Design by: Gillian Tan
Musical Director: Khalil Madovi
Movement Director: Gabrielle Nimo
The Boy with Wings is aimed at ages 7-12 and runs at Polka Theatre until Saturday 16 August.
