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Abi Unwin-Smith and Annie Clarke |
Tales of love and darkness
DARK TALES
Llion and Unicorn
HAVE you heard the fairy tale about the severed head in the flowerpot? No, that one never featured in my bedtime stories either.
Giant Olive’s Dark Tales eschews Hans Christian Andersen’s most well-known stories in favour of his more macabre fables of vanity, greed and love.
The nine-strong cast rattle through six of the Dane’s darkest at quite a pace – even adults will have to concentrate to keep up. Storytelling and roles are shared by the talented troupe, with sparkly-eyed Annie Clarke and stalwart Alice Birch bringing charisma to their narration and comedy to their performances, especially in the rivalry tale Big Claus Little Claus.
The constant presence of all the cast can be distracting, but some neat, directorial decisions ensure they are put to good use. From clicking fingers to produce the pitter-patter of rain, to fabricating roses and rivers from scarves; they serve as sound designers and stage management too.
Washing lines provide a simple set, with the folky theme reflected in the costumes, informal seating and incense aroma.
Two of the troupe double up as musicians, playing some lively, relentless Flamenco music to drive on Karen (Annie Clarke), whose Red Shoes have a mind of their own.
Any unhappy endings are not dwelt on, as Danish nursery songs, sung with gusto, merrily bridge the gaps between the tales.
A 12+ rating seems rather cautious, as the stories are not as dark as promised, with most of the violence dealt with in a matter of a fact way; your average computer-game-savvy child will probably be unfazed by swiftly bumped-off grannies and chopped-off feet.
All but the youngest will be drawn in by this intense and engaging production, so forget Disney-style happy endings and opt for these deliciously dark, sticky ends instead.
Until April 18
020 7485 9897 |
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