Slingsby in association with Adelaide Festival of Arts 2016. 5th Floor Myer Centre (formerly Dazzleland). 27 Feb 2016
Oh, Slingsby, you've done it again! Currently lead by artistic director Andy Packer and executive producer Jodi Glass, the South Australian Slingsby theatre production company has toured numerous works to forty-three cities, including performances on Broadway.
In this world premiere, you meet the King's staff on the ground floor of the shopping palace and are transported in his personal elevator to the workshop - follow the advice you receive after purchasing your ticket through BASS which is come a half-hour earlier. You can't meet a king and present coronation gifts looking like a frump or a hobo!
The King is an extremely pleasant fellow played affably by Tim Overton. Ably assisted by Jacqy Phillips who plays a myriad of characters, and on the eve of the King's coronation, together they tell the tale of the old king's grandson, brought back from poverty and banishment, to be crowned the next day. The young king has ordered the finest robes, scepter and crown for the occasion but three well-illustrated dreams bring a change of heart. The story is of absolute relevance today.
Oscar Wilde's short story - dramatised for the stage by Adelaide's Nicki Bloom - is given the kiss of life through director Andy Packer's application of theatrical magic. Geoff Cobham's lighting is minimalist, playful and inventive; eg. The use of shadow play and hand-held torches. Composer Quincy Grant entices a delightful score from the piano, and you are in the court of the King, in a kingdom of citizen artisans, miners, and tree-fellers, you incorporeally haunt a palace, a hovel and forests, and I haven't yet described the poignant imagery of the dreams. Yet in the opening scenes, the young king is such a nice guy, his avarice for fine things is dulled. This is no Scrooge-like transformation. And the final imagery of transformation was rushed and not well established.
Don't leave sans une programme with the whole story published within. Bravo, Slingsby!
David Grybowski
When: 27 Feb to 19 Mar
Where: 5th Floor Myer Centre (formerly Dazzleland)
Bookings: adelaidefestival.com.au
