Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.
Adapted by David Wood. Directed by James Scott. Honest Puck Theatre. Perform Australia Fyshwick. January 10 – 17 2020. Bookings www.perform.edu.au or 1300 908 905.
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
Danny. The Champion of The World marks a notable departure from other
works by Roald Dahl. There are no amazing chocolate factories, giant peaches,
big friendly giants or twisted takes on familiar nursery rhymes or popular folk
tales. There are no magic tricks or bewildering illusions. Instead there is the
magic of a very different kind. It is the magic of a love between a single
parent father and his young son. There is the magic of friendship and community
spirit. There is the magic of wit against the stupidity of arrogance and
malevolence. And there is the magical triumph of good over evil.
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| Leo Scott as Danny. James Scott as Dad |
At its heart, Danny The Champion of the World is a story
of the nature of goodness and kindness. It is a simple story about poacher and garage
owner William (James Scott), his son Danny (Leo Scott) and their battle to
survive the oppressive use of wealth and privilege by the local landowner Mr
Hazel (David Cain). Honest Puck Theatre has staged a simple, honest and
unpretentious production of Dahl’s affectionate story and David Wood’s skilful
and natural adaptation. The representational set effectively depicts the look
and feel of William’s caravan, fuel pump and garage. The audience needs no
glitz or glamour. Set construction by Sam Wilde and scenic art by Rachel
Pengilly evoke a country town setting on one side of the stage and the forest
on the other. Sergeant Samway’s pride and joy is his cut-out Austin Seven and
Victor Hazel’s car is given a more expensive sheen. Puppet designer Jenny
Oliver has created loveable hens and colourful pheasants and puppeteers Odessa
Johnson and Lily Mae Harrison allow the puppets their character without
intrusion. All in all, the setting of the play is free from artifice, a virtue
reflected in the performances by natural young actor, Leo Scott and his
experienced real life Dad, James Scott.
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| David Cain as Victor Hazel. Katherine Berry as Rabbetts |
Director James Scott maintains a
careful eye for the qualities of good children’s theatre. The villagers, Dad, Danny, Sergeant Samways
(Brendan Kelly), Mrs. Clipstone (Monica Engel), Dr. Spencer (Veronica
Constance) and taxi driver Charlie Kinch (Katherine Berry) give natural and believable
performances, while the villains of the piece, Hazel and offsider Rabbetts and Council Inspector , all
played by Katherine Berry capture the exaggeration of villainy with effective
energy.
Younger audience members are kept
involved with additional participation as they are invited to sign a petition
against the council’s eviction notice and then make the sounds to drive the
pheasants away from the Hazel’s cruel shooting party. Participation
maintains audience interest and
excitement, but in Honest Puck’s uncomplicated production it is the power of
the human element of Dahl’s story that best engages young and old alike. The
universal battle between good and bad and the victorious triumph of goodness
and kindness wield their magic. Effectively used sound effects and music
heighten mood and action, operated by technical operator Patrick Uran. Only the
initial subdued lighting of the opening poaching sequence obscured the action.
Lighting designers have a habit at times of preferring mood over visibility. A
small but cautionary quibble.
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| David Cain as Victor Hetzel. Veronica Constance as Head Teacher. Brendan Kelly as Mr. Jackson |
For fans of Roald Dahl, Honest
Puck’s Danny The Champion of the World is
a faithful and thoroughly enjoyable interpretation and production of a story
that captures the heart and excites the imagination. I look forward to and
highly commend future holiday productions for children by a company that
understands their audience and the power of storytelling.