by an nameless visitor critic
Lightning Ridge is a playfully-told household present a couple of rural Australian mining neighborhood. The bother begins when Kelly-Ann’s two imaginary mates go lacking, and the entire village has to come back collectively to search out them.
Gill Robertson as co-creator and performer is a heat, pleasant presence as she units about telling this story with gusto. It’s delivered with minimal props – pebbles characterize the individuals of the city, a chalk circle is drawn on the bottom to characterize a mine shaft. Gill begins the present by pouring – at size – the sand out of her boots, cleverly setting the scene.
It’s a enjoyable, attention-grabbing story with just a few laughs for each mother and father and youngsters, and in taking part in the entire city Gill will get the chance to display a powerful vary of accents. The story – during which we’re requested to think about our protagonist’s imaginary mates – appears designed to make kids query what’s actual and what’s not, and whether or not desires and daydreams are foolish or necessary to an individual. Perhaps it additionally desires us to contemplate whether or not it’s sort to bask in a fantasy if it’d cheer somebody up. Isn’t that the purpose of us all sitting collectively in a darkish room, collectively imagining?
This is an endearing piece, which manages to take care of some heavy material in a cautious, cheerful approach. It’s nice for each adults and youngsters and your imaginary mates get in without spending a dime.
Lightening Ridge runs by 20 August.
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