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An English-language World Premiere
The title of the drama about Ante Is Written Here
by Ivor Martinic
Blue Elephant Theatre
23 Sept - 10 Oct 09
r y Couzens
A review by Owain Paciuzsko for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Tucked away in the cosy, friendly and off-beat Blue Elephant theatre, performed on an - initially - white painted stage is a tender, pacy and curious production of lost innocence, growing up, love and the consequences of war.
As the five strong cast assemble on stage they instantly begin scrawling on the walls in black marker pen; '1,280 children were wounded during the Croatian War of Independence' scrawled across the back wall and soon joined by the party decorations and sketchily realised trappings of Ante's home. The phrase lingers subtly, a message looming large over the actions that follow, but more so than just the literal implications of such a statement, for the wounds of this war run deeper than just physical wounds and effect more than just the children.
It is Ante's twelfth birthday - he's played with a cunning mixture of childlike rampage, selfish energy, confusion and sadness by Croatian born actor Marko Cindric - and his focus is split sporadically between his friend Ljubica (Naomi Bullock), his neighbour (Maggie Daniels) and the woman - Jela (Nadja Mitidiero) , his widowed father Josip (Daniel Simpson) is spending time with. There are a number of growing up stories being told here, not just between the two children, but also for Ante's father; Daniel Simpson in particular delivers a careful, nuanced and beautifully emotive portrayal.
Keeping the play lively is a post-modern approach to story-telling that extends far beyond the adaptable, effective, yet sparse design. Characters dip in and out of the moment, narrating their own actions and providing self-analytical comment (even picking out intentional flaws in the writing; 'Ljubica doesn't know the word imaginary.'). This works well, with lighting states transforming the narrative into something closer to flicking through an old photo album. This barrage of words also brings a break-neck pace to events that, fortunately, doesn't impair this production from carrying a huge ammount of heart and weight, and it is a true testament to the ensemble that they deliver upon every emotional beat, though occasionally stumbling on a few awkward sentences.
This production, its English language premiere, is ably and smartly directed by Rebecca Tortora from the based-on-true-events script by Ivor Martinic (translated by Maja Tonkovic) and fits the intimate space of the Blue Elephant wonderfully. A real treat for this charming venue's 10th Anniversary Season.
http://www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk/whatson.htm
59a Bethwin Road, Camberwell, SE5 0XT
Tel: 020 7701 0100
info@blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
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