The Adventures of Tom Thumb – Blue Screen Theatre and Elena Riu. A cast of four, on a single set, contrive to transport you from an old peoples’ home through a world of adventures and hence to heaven – not bad going. For a kids show it has a pretty weird plot, but it’s delivered with simple and beautifully effective puppetry and the power of imagination, offering a fairytale mixture of fantasy and fun.
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The simple set represents an old peoples’ home, and Tom Thumb is one of the residents, here the simplicity ends. The back story concerns an old Tom, who may or may not be a fairy, or a fantasist, wishing to relive some of his adventures, and who’s wishes or care regime, or both, are opposed by his only grandson, who is a lawyer. When I spoke with some six year olds upon leaving, they did express some consternation: ‘Tom Thumb’s not an old man, and he wears a blue hat, and he’s not bald!’ though they also said they had enjoyed it very much. This complexity is not as important to the overall as the visual and imaginative elements. In the fantasy sequences, Tom is played by a foot high puppet who is controlled by three adults holding heads, hands and feet. You would expect this to be crowded, however the effect is entrancing, it is very easy to forget they are there at all, and Tom comes alive. Plasticine men, pirate ships and slapstick chase sequences are handled with equal skill, leaving at least this audience member confused, but satisfied. |
