AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS

 

Around The World In Eighty Days.

Adapted from the novel by Jules Verne by Mark Brown. 

Directed by James Scott. Puppeteer Deni Dominguez. Costumes Ange Fewtrell. Technical Operators Lucy Yang-Tobler and Caspian Scott. Program Design JC Alavazo. Indian Dialect Coach Srsethsa Banerjee. Honest Puck Productions.

Reviewed by Peter Wilkins

 

Brendan Kelly as Phileas Fogg. Pema Yogini Yuphel as Aouda
Jack Morton as Passepartout in Around The World in Eighty Days

Leo Amadeus in one of his 13 roles

As a child I devoured the novels of Jules Verne and none more so than Around The World in Eighty Days. Later I was utterly engrossed in Mike Todd’s Todd-AO masterpiece on the wide screen. I was delighted then to find that I was as enchanted by Mark Brown’s adaptation of Phileas Fogg’s journey in Honest Puck’s simple and yet absolutely captivating stage production of Jules Verne’s adventure story. As a child it was the adventure that kept me enthralled as Fogg and his companion Passepartout faced the risks and challenges of completing the journey in order to win a wager of 20000pounds from his fellow members of London’s prestigious and progressive Reform Club. It was the thrill of the bet, the suspense of the race against the clock, the pursuit by the ridiculous Detective Fix, the heroic rescue of the Indian princess Aoda and the twist at the end that brought the adventure to a happy ending.

As an adult, swept along by Honest Puck’s tightly directed and well energetically performed production, I was aware of  Verne’s keen perception of human behaviour. It is money that drives men’s motives and money that buys solutions. Fogg’s perseverance against all odds inspired by a sense of duty, honour and punctuality wins the day. Director James Scott capitalizes on every opportunity to demonstrate Verne’s mockery of the British, the French, the law, religion and arranged marriage. What Scott and his company achieve is a show that is fun for the entire family.

Leo Amadeus in one of his 13 roles in
Around The World In Eighty Days

In Honest Puck’s new premises, surprisingly tucked away in a corner between a group of shops in Reed Street Tuggeranong, Scott cleverly manages to capture the obsession with time, the  moments of suspense and danger with Deni Dominguez’s shadow puppetry and an elephant head and trunk. The versatile cast of five also play multiple roles as well as narrating the action at times, so as to keep the action moving quickly from scene to scene. Actor Leo Amadeus gives a mercurial performance as he slips into a host of different characters. It is a performance brimming with chameleon surprise. There are fine performances from the entire cast. Brendan Kelly is every bit the reserved, conservative but dutiful British gentleman, calm and controlled in every situation. Only his bleak black costume and long hair tended to belie his aristocratic manner. Jack Morton’s Passepartout is a tour de force clownish performance, capturing the foolishness of the bumbling servant with the devotion to his master and his duty. His performance was a joy to watch. Pema Yogini Yuphei gave an enchanting performance as the sweet and innocent Indian Princess rescued by Passepeartout from her awful predicament. Vocally her delivery could have been stronger. Director Scott also plays the bumbling woebegone Detective Fix, hot on the heels of his suspected bank robber. It is a cleverly underplayed performance, lending a touch of pathos to Fix’s unlucky pursuit.

James Scott as Detective Fix. Jack Morton as Jean Passepartout

Honest Puck’s Around The World In Eighty Days marks a welcome return by this company to Canberra theatre after an absence of a couple of years . The production of Mark Brown’s adaptation  is true to the novel that I read so voraciously and the company extracts every moment of suspenseful adventure and hilarity in a performance that will delight every member of the family. This is a production that is simple, honest and entertaining from beginning to end.