Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
Adapted
by Eva di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim McGarry from the stories by May
Gibbs. Directed by Susanna Dowling. Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Presented by
the Canberra Theatre Centre and CDP Productions. The Canberra Theatre. August 18
-20 2016
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
The crackly voice of elderly May Gibbs, creator of the iconic and beloved immortal
gumnut babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
reminds the audience of her childhood inspiration that gave birth to the
delightful adventures of the creatures
of the Australian bush. Generations have come to love the stories of Snugglepot
and Cuddlepie , and young children on their parent’s or grandparent’s knee gaze wide-eyed at the
illustrations as they listen to the exploits of the Gumnut Babies and the popular
loveable Ragged Blossom, the pompous Professor Kangaroo, the matronly Miss
Fantail and the smooth Mr. Lizard. The eyes widen in anxious concern at the
nasty actions of Mrs. Snake or the Banksia Men and squeal with joy as
Snugglepot and Cuddle Pie overcome all the perils of the bush.
 |
| Thomas Pidd as Cuddlepie and Nicholas Hiatt as Snugglepot Photo by Heidrun Lohr |
CDP’s presentation of the stage
adaptation of May Gibb beloved tales is no less delightful, vividly brought to
life and colourfully realized in Imogen Ross’s gumleaf setting and Matthew
Aberline’s splendid costumes. Adapters Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim
McGarry have been faithful to May Gibbs's creations and have woven a fun-filled,
fifty-five minute adventure that had the young children rapt in wonder as their
beloved flora and fauna sprang to life upon the Canberra Theatre stage.
Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s production is the perfect illustration of
first class children’s theatre. Bright,
energetic, colourful and filled with clever physical business and lively
performances by the small cast, it sweeps the audience along as Snugglepot
(Nicholas Hiatt) and Cuddlepie (Thomas Pidd) set out to find a human.
Snugglepot the intrepid cajoles the more cautious Cuddlepie to join him, and he
finally acquiesces, but “at a distance”. Like all good tales, Gibbs’s
characters embark upon a quest. Along the way, they encounter new friends to
join them, and must escape the perilous pursuits of the slithery snake (Lucy
Goleby) and the bumbling Banksia Man (Jake Lyall). With the aid of Mr. Lizard,
Ragged Blossom, Mr. Frog and Miss Fantail, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie come across
a human rescuing Mr. Possum from a trap. And therein lies the moral of our
tale. Just as there are the good and bad members of the flora and fauna race,
so too are there good and bad humans who live upon the earth. With the aid of
good friends, the bad can be vanquished and good will triumph. It’s a moral
that even the youngest five year old as well as the oldest ten year old and
their families can understand.
 |
| Lucy Goleby as Mrs. Snake. Photo: Heidrun Lohr |
Susanna Dowling directs with
flair and imagination. The children delight in the playful opening wooden sword
combat between the two gumnut babies and there is much sliding and swinging on
the central see-saw branch. Goleby and Lyall take on the many other roles with
lightning costume changes. There is tumbling and falling, running and bumping
and Goleby in both her roles as the
captured Ragged Blossom and the vanquished snake.is hauled across the floor by
her legs into the wings
 |
| Lucy Goleby as Miss Fantail. Thomas Pidd and Nicholas Hiatt. Jake Lyall as Mr. Lizard. Photo: He idrun Lohr |
Exquisitely staged and performed
with gusto and fun by the versatile cast, the production exudes every ounce of
adventure and charm that have made May Gibbs’s stories such a treasured
collection on generations of bookshelves. This production is sheer joy and
tells its tale for all to love.
Above all, the telling of the tale is done with integrity, understanding and a delicious insight into the imaginative world of the child. It is a production to appeal like May Gibbs’ tales to all ages for all time. It is a quintessential Australian folk lore, and Children’s Theatre at its best.
 |
| Thomas Pidd as Cuddlepie. Nicholas Hiatt as Snugglepot. Photo by Heidrun Lohr |
 |
| Jake Lyall as Mr. Lizard and Lucy Goleby as Ragged Blossom |
 |
| Jake Lyall as Professor Kookaburra and Lucy Goleby as Miss Fantail Photo by Heidrum Lohr |