Theatre / Reviews
An Elephant in the Garden, Brewery Theatre
Photography by Farrows Creative
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book, An Elephant in the Garden is the story of Elizabeth, a teenage girl growing up in wartime Dresden. When “the most beautiful city in Germany” is devoured by a raging firestorm as the result of an Allied bombing raid, Elizabeth sets off on a trek to flee the advancing Russians across war-torn Germany with her mother – and an elephant.
Adapted by Simon Reade – who was also responsible for the recent one-man staging of Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful – this production draws on an ancient tradition of storytelling, with a single actor narrating, but also acting out the scenes that she’s describing.
In a setting like that, the success or failure of the night depends entirely on the ability of that single actor. Happily Alison Reid is more than up to the task. On a bare set in the tiny Brewery Theatre, with the aid of just a handful of props and a beautifully judged sound and light scheme, Reid conjures up a plethora of interacting characters. In a bravura performance, she populates the stage with Canadian airmen and German farmers, each with their own distinct personality and presence. At times she even gives us a very believable elephant. Meanwhile, she also keeps the story going at a pace fast enough to grip even the younger and more distractable audience members.
At a little over an hour, An Elephant in the Garden is just the right length to engage its youthful target audience. It’s also a perfect opportunity for them to discover the magic that only live theatre can offer: the ability to suspend disbelief and allow an actor to play on your imagination, conjuring up worlds out of thin air.
An Elephant in the Garden continues at the Brewery Theatre, Bristol until Saturday, 15 November. For more information and to book tickets, visit http://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/detail/an_elephant_in_the_garden/
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