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Henry Hitchings's rating
, Swallows and Amazons, Vaudeville - review
By
Henry Hitchings
21 Dec 2011
Tom Morris played a significant part in the success of War Horse. Now, as artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, he's struck gold again with this inventive and enjoyable adaptation of Arthur Ransome's classic Swallows and Amazons. And he's persuaded Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy to contribute witty, satisfying music.
The story is simple. Four polite children, the Walkers, are spending the school holidays in the Lake District and take a borrowed boat,
Swallow, to an uninhabited island. They think of themselves as explorers, and soon enough adventure comes their way: they encounter two fierce sisters, the Blacketts, whose craft the Amazon seems at first a daunting enemy - and then an ally as they tussle with the grumpy houseboat owner Captain Flint.
Helen Edmundson's script is faithful to the spirit of the novel, which is set in the summer of 1929.
The characterisation is generous, and Morris directs the ensemble with warmth, savouring the childish zest for pretending to be pirates while also honouring the detail and expansiveness of Ransome's writing.
The children are played by adults. Stewart Wright, who's over 30, is seven-year-old Roger, and although this seems incongruous it generates a good deal of amusement, thanks to Wright's ability to appear simultaneously sturdy and delicate.
Akiya Henry exudes an easy enthusiasm as the unfortunately named Titty Walker, while Richard Holt and Katie Moore are gently convincing as the other siblings. There's also memorable work from Celia Adams and Sophie Waller as the Blacketts.
Props are used sparingly and with considerable ingenuity. Two blue ribbons, stretched across the stage, suggest the sea. A duster and some secateurs together become a parrot. Bin bags are transformed into a sinister cormorant. There are plenty of other neat touches in Robert Innes Hopkins's design, and all the music - mostly uncomplicated, yet with a few eccentric gestures - is played onstage with admirable economy. When Swallows and Amazons was foisted on me as a child I didn't like it. Ransome's narrative felt too quaint as well as too steeped in a love of sailing and a certain kind of folksy Englishness. But in this reimagining it seems a rich and appealing fantasy, which pays aptly Christmasy homage to the power of the imagination. Following its London run, it will deservedly tour nationwide.
Until January 14 (0844 412 4663)
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
