The Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat
Little Match Productions. Brisbane Festival. Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Cremorne Theatre 26-29 September, 2018

Little Match Productions, a Brisbane independent theatre company, has devised a delightful take on the Edward Lear poem that has been fascinating children for more than a century. The title characters are both female, so this production’s interpretation as a tale of unlikely friendship and love has an underlying subtext of diversity and acceptance. The theme continues as the lead pair meet a series of strange animal characters that test their preconceptions on their run-away adventure together.

The show is warm and funny and deftly handled by the likeable cast. As Owl, Pia Frangiosa is an elder, wise and knowing presence; Irena Lysiuk’s Pussycat is more impulsive, moody and sassy; and Jackson McGovern adds an air of comfortable Tommy Steele wit to his multiple characters and MC-like Moon. All three performers have a clear and sharp Opera range and confidently cope with the production’s key songs. With warmth and humour, they encourage easy audience participation that comes gladly from the audience – young and old alike – in a relaxed setting with children on cushions at the front and adults seated at the back of the theatre. We are all in the pea-green boat together.

The costumes are a witty mix of 1930s retro aviation chic and dressing-up box glam. Children will easily be able to emulate Pussycat’s tweeds and furs and Owl’s torn fabric wings and aviator goggles in their own role-playing, which is a brilliant touch.

Contributing on-stage colour – and quirky background music – is a trio of musicians: Daniel Byrne on Clarinet, Kathryn McKee on Cello and Cameron Kennedy on Vibes and Percussion. This colourful Puffin Band look like a band playing on the Titanic, adding to the sense of the absurd. The tunes are no Wiggles-like earworms – this is Opera, and an absolutely fun introduction to the style for small people – although I thought some notes were a bit long and loud for tiny ears. But the hour-long show held the little ones’ attention for the duration. They loved it. And because the show does not talk down to its target audience, the adults enjoyed it too.

The performance I attended had an extra layer of jollity – Auslan signing interpreter, Zane Hema. Catching a glimpse of his calm presence to the side of the stage was a delight. And now I know how to sign for ‘honey’, ‘seasick’,  ‘stars’ and ‘zen’ – an unexpected treat.

Beth Keehn

Photo credit: Nick Morrissey

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