Reviews
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Scarecrow
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Gritty and well crafted |
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| Theatr Powys , Llanover Hall, Cardiff , January 27, 2010 |
| Once every year Artistic Director Ian Yeoman brings his Theatr Powys Company down from Llandrindod Wells to Cardiff. He always brings with him a touch of eerie magic and powerful mystery. There’s a magical charm in the old crumbling mansion, not far from the edge of the village, where this modern tale of troubled young children takes place. Its crumbling stones and the twisted trees that have sprouted from the rubble, a very positive design from Julia Curtis make the perfect setting; an exciting place for kids to explore. A large ‘Keep Out’ sign doesn’t deter our little heroes from making the old ruin their special place. In the evening light Wynne emerges from the surrounding bushes into the familiar spot, she is carrying a bundle of newspapers, the sort that are left outside the newsagent’s door very early in the morning. She hides the bundle, the sun rises and she looks for her friend the scarecrow. But there’s not a lot of him left, he’s been vandalised, pulled down from his perch in the field, his head torn off and his straw stuffing is everywhere. Brave ten year old Wynne is undaunted, Olwen Medi enchants us with the stillness and beauty she brings to the role. She refills the scarecrow’s sacking head and ties it in place, sits the creature upright in an old chair, looks deep into his eyes and starts asking him many of the questions that trouble children like, why are mummy and daddy always shouting? And where does the sky end? Two slightly older children, brother and sister, Bethan and Arthur decide to explore the ‘secret’ ruin. This is the first time they have directly encountered Wynne but they know about her and her family who have been ostracised by the people in the village. Wynne’s brother was a soldier serving in Afghanistan; he is in disgrace, imprisoned as a result of his conduct there. Bethan and Arthur are surprised that Wynne does not smell of urine, as the village gossip says she does. They have been told not to speak to her. Conversation is a little hesitant at first but very soon they are secret friends. Again Naomi Doyle and Ralph Bolland captivate as a fashion-conscious eleven year old and her Ninja Turtle obsessed younger brother. There are a couple of scenes where the scarecrow comes to life giving Wynne some avuncular reassurance but it is Chris Batten’s cool playing of the hard teenager given to bursts of violence who Wynne reassures and with her new friends determine to make a hide-out for him in the crumbling ruin. Some of the children’s questions are answered. It’s more a positive than a happy ending. Once again Yeoman and his bedazzling team, with the well crafted words of Chris Cooper, have entranced us and given us some gritty facts of modern-day life to think about. |
| Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
