★★★★☆ It would be easy to read the play as merely a critique of the South African apartheid regime, but that comfortable option would be to overlook the ever-present dangers that seep out with depressing regularity from the dung pit of far right factions
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★★★★★ There is far more to Bourne’s Swan Lake than mere gender-juggling. In many ways, a more interesting aspect of Bourne’s achievement is that he has taken the central idea of the story back to its dark, mythic origins.
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★★★☆☆ The fun in this production comes from the instantaneous quick changes and deft characterizations which occasionally left one wondering who’s what where, so seamless were they. The show gives Bath audiences a chance to see a show which has conquered both the West End and Broadway.
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★★★★☆ It begins with the lead male character Tamino being pursued by a monster, in this production a rather ridiculous giant prawn, in the opening scene. The surreal dystopia also sees wild animals tamed by a magic flute and three boys flying away in a bicycle-powered mechanical fish.
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★★★★☆ Tom Mothersdale’s creation is a dark, impulsively malevolent thing. A bustling, misshapen upstart, swooping around the stage like a balletic crab, his pincers jabbing and snipping at anything that gets in his way. He is an actor quite at home in his expressive body which, articulate as it is articulated, gives physical expression to a twisted mind.
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★★★★★ Towards the end, Tomlinson touches on the core of what I think the play does perfectly. He says that he is always careful to stop and speak to people who think of him as Mr Banks. He says ‘Be careful with other people’s memories’. This is precisely what this play does – it’s a wonderful nostalgia trip, while telling a story which will be new to much of the audience. An utter delight.
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