Arts

Theatre Review: Big Bad Wolf

Big Bad Wolf is not about the evil creature that you think you already know; he is simply just a misunderstood character!

Presented by Windmill Theatre Co
Reviewed 11 October 2017

This should be a tale that we all know, and a villain that we are familiar with. Big Bad Wolf is not about the evil creature that you think you already know; he is simply just a misunderstood character! Along with the help of his new friend Heidi Hood, Wolfy is here to determine that he is not one of the bad guys like the fairy tales might suggest.

A creative concept brought to us by Kaye Weeks and written by Matthew Whittet, Big Bad Wolf teaches the audience that Wolfy is not as he seems. Windmill Theatre Co has given us a delightful hour of both fun and adventure for the whole audience. This performance had many children on school holidays with their families, all who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show. Director Rosemary Myers has ensured to make the most of the stage, set and her three-piece cast.

The set is a simple forest but used very effectively, along with Heidi Hood’s little house and Wolfy’s tree he lives underneath; credit here to Jonathon Oxlade for this design. Set pieces such as Heidi’s couch and Wolfy’s tree both come to life and brighten up the stage. Lighting design by Chris Petridis was perfect and gave the scenery just the right amount of attention, while sound design by Harry Covill was also used well during the opening with the sounds of the forest playing as the audience entered. There was only the one notable audio glitch during this performance, which the cast covered very well.

There are three actors on stage throughout this play, all giving their roles every bit of energy and fun making them all such likeable characters. Patrick Graham plays Wolfy, the misunderstood wolf, with such charm and charisma. He connects well with the audience and makes sure the children do not fear him. Heidi Hood is played by Emma J Hawkins, and she has plenty of spark and a fun nature to give Heidi exactly what her character needs. Together, Graham and Hawkins have great chemistry as two new friends, and they work well together.

Matilda Bailey is our Narrator, but she also has the task of playing all the minor roles throughout. She has a kind and friendly nature with the audience and gets to show her scary side as Wolfy’s Mother, while also being the voice over for several other characters. This trio of actors clearly all bounce off of each other well, to ensure each performance runs smoothly.

Windmill Theatre Co has delivered a fine play here that the audience clearly enjoyed. There is also a good message behind the show: that it is not always good to judge a book by its cover.

With the school holidays running, this is a perfect opportunity to get the kids along to enjoy this great show.

Reviewed by Daniel Knowles

Venue: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 11 October – 21 October 2017
Duration: 50 mins
Tickets$25.00 Groups* 6+ $20.00 Family $80.00
Bookingshttps://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/shows/big-bad-wolf/

 

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