Emil and the Detectives
Emil and the Detectives is about a group of kids who band together to help a boy recover his stolen goods and get justice. It’s the first and quintessential story of the genre, later personified by Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. Based on Erich Kästner’s novella, Emil und die Detektive, first published in 1929, it has never been out-of-print. And Slingsby’s production, directed by Andy Packer, and adapted by Nicki Bloom, looks like setting its own record having toured Australia, USA, India, China and the UK.
Slingsby’s signature style of theatre, intimate storytelling with cinematic undertones, is present in this production, as the theatrical wonders of the stage unfold and keep the audience transfixed, using lighting, sound FX, illustrations, and a small amount of audience interaction. Wendy Todd’s design uses shadow-play (miniature and grand), to depict everything from a moving train to building elevators and city-scapes, whilst Geoff Cobham’s lighting design, with Quincy Grant’s compositions and sound design, are superb. The use of three clothes-lines of miniature people paper cutouts is a marvelous creative way to depict the bustling city. The period is not especially spelt out, but costumes and props seem to mirror a 1940s look.
The plot has the young Emil sent by his mother to the big city to take money to his grandmother. To keep the money safe, he pins it into the lining of his coat, but an untrustworthy man in a bowler hat, steals it when Emil falls asleep on the train. Distraught and alone in the city he meets some city-smart kids who come to his rescue and recover the cash when Emil proves it is his by pointing out the pin holes in the notes.
The innocent Emil is played masterfully by Kate Cheel, who brings a feisty but warmly determined edge to the character. Tim Overton plays the bowler hat man, Emil’s mother and a host of other parts nicely delineated with technical skill.
The 70 minute production zips by in a flash. Inventive, imaginative, and boldly theatrical, it’s not only a show for kids but anyone who enjoys good storytelling.
Peter Pinne
Photographer: Andy Ellis
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