Little Bird

Little Bird
By Nicki Bloom, with songs and music by Cameron Goodall and Quentin Grant. State Theatre Company of SA. Director: Geordie Brookman. 6th - 22nd June, 2014

A fairytale of sorts with a heartbreaking soundtrack and a journey of self discovery, Little Bird is the brave choice made by State Theatre Company of South Australia in their first collaboration with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

A story of longing, self examination and society’s labels; young Wren is given life by award winning and celebrated actor Paul Capsis. Visually captivating, it is impossible to take your eyes off Capsis as he morphs from a young child to adult.

A couple longing for a child are overjoyed when their baby boy is born. Cradled and loved, dynamics change as he grows, until one day Wren returns from school to find his mother missing. His father, so grief-stricken, is unable to nurture the young boy as he once did and so too begins another chapter for Wren, as he goes in search of love and happiness.

The story is told beautifully with song, but I would not class it as musical theatre. Songs vary from ballads to rock opera, with storytelling the central theme. Versatile performer Capsis delights as he moves gracefully across the stage, every emotion oozing from his body, his physicality a highlight. The mood is heightened with excellent use of lighting filling the vast space around him and the orchestral tones of a four piece band. Geoff Cobham has designed a set that does not distract from the performer yet allows him to breathe. The production team have taken risks, but it works.

Capsis comes full circle in Wren’s journey to find himself, in a story most can relate to, told with sensitivity and raw emotion. Writers and composers utilised the vocal talents of this  hypnotic performer well. A tale told outside the box which will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Kerry Cooper

Images: Paul Capsis. Photorapher: Shane Reid.

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