Big Bad Wolf

Big Bad Wolf
By Matthew Gilbert Windmill Theatre Company / Melbourne Theatre Company. Director: Rosemary Myers. Designer: Jonathon Oxlade. Lighting designer: Chris Petridis. Sound designer: Harry Covill. Movement Consultant: Carol Wellman Kelly. Southbank Theatre, The Lawler. 10 to 25 January 2014

The set was recognisably the world of the wolf; dark forest, cute cottage and a small person, complete with red coat who might be eaten at any moment. But in this fairy tale, the wolf tends towards bowties and poetry and a challenging relationship with his mother. The play, developed for children, made and occasionally belaboured, the point that different doesn’t necessarily mean bad.  

The actor playing Heidi Hood (Emma J Hawkins) used her considerable physical skills to create energy and interest and her acting provided believability and some poignancy. Her character’s moment of stage fright was fabulous. She was an excellent foil for the nerdy Wolfie (Patrick Graham) whose character suffered from being the outsider in a whingy, pathetic way.

Kate Cheel provided voices and movement for a tree, a rabbit and a chair, and was also a television announcer and Wolfie’s demanding and disappointed mother. Her characters helped to explain and move the story along.  

There was real delight and whimsy in the set and the lighting and sound design fully supported the action.

The children who made up a majority of the audience seemed to enjoy the play and their few moments of participation. It seemed a pity they were not more fully brought into the forest.  

Ruth Richter

Image:  L-R Patrick Graham, Kate Cheel and Emma J Hawkins. Photo by Tony Lewis

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