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An uneasy look at the past
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Malvern Theatres
***** THIS Children’s Touring Partnership
production, playing to a full house in Malvern at the start of its tour,
is a compelling adaptation of John Boyne’s fable which gave a different
but poignant perspective on the horrors of the Holocaust during the
Second World War. Adopting the perspective of two nine year olds
has a powerful ironic impact: they have a very innocent and naïve
understanding of what is happening around them and the adults in their
world are keen to keep them ‘in the dark’ or ‘innocent of the deeds’, so
their almost charming questions and comments carry a sinister irony. An innocent adventure becomes a horrific
nightmare as they behave as little boys naturally behave and we are
disturbed by the tragedy that results from the failure to act with
integrity on the part of Herr Commandant. Bruno’s parents begin with a move from Berlin to
the country because father has been promoted. He has been given the
massive responsibility for the concentration
camp in Poland from which he hopes to screen and protect his children.
He feels his conduct is both patriotic and an essential fulfilment of
his duty, despite the twinges of conscience prompted by his wife and
most acutely by his mother. The suppression of conscience happens very easily
as individuals justify their behaviour by very reasonable statements:
‘Life is not fair, Bruno!’ says mother. ’It’s not up to us to change
things!’ ‘It’s important to ‘know when to keep your mouth shut and do as
you are told!’ Bruno has no understanding of what is happening
behind the fence beyond their back garden and when he meets Shmuel, an
emaciated victim of his own age beyond the barbed wire fence, he just
treats him as playmate. Despite the tutor, Herr Liszt, telling Bruno and
his sister that the people behind the fence are not people, the boys are
not naturally racist at all. ‘Are we Jews?’ asks Bruno innocently at one
point. However the friendship develops in ways that
ironically and poignantly highlight the horrors of the camps without
portraying any real violence directly on stage. The show makes a strong impact: the haunting
music that starts the show and is reprised at various moments sets a
strong atmosphere along with the typing of the headlines of the
narrative. The stage design is ingenious and effective with the initial
plainness adapting to provide the setting for family meals, a party, a
revolving scene for the barbed wire fence and the meetings of the two
lads. There was a huge amount of script to memorise for
the two youngest actors, Jabez Cheeseman (Bruno) and Colby Mulgrew (Shmuel),
performing last night I believe. They were spot on and the play hinges
significantly on their performances. Although a few words or speeches
were not completely audible, their enunciation and projection was in
general excellent and they endeared themselves to the audience. They
were key to the impact of the show. Around the two lads Phil Cheadle played the part
of Father with a brilliantly moderated and balanced performance,
avoiding caricature but illustrating how easily men and women who were
not fundamentally evil allowed themselves can be caught up in something
ghastly and devastating. The tension of a situation that clearly strained
nerves to near breaking point was well controlled by the women portrayed
by Rosie Wyatt (Maria), Marianne Oldham (Mother) and Helen Anderson
(Grandmother). This ‘fable’ does not portray a literal scenario
that would have happened quite as described in the novel but it is
strong in its ability to enable the audience to suspend disbelief and
engage with the young lads at its core. These people were typical of
many Germans in that awful period in recent history. The play closes
with the ironic conclusion that such evil could surely not be repeated
in the ‘modern’ world. An excellent and morally wholesome experience for
all! To 14-03-15 Tim Crow
10-03-15 Midland tour dates: Tue 9 - Sat 13 Jun Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 01902 42 92 12; Tue 16 – Sat 20 Jun Coventry Belgrade 024 7655 3055
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