Folly Bridge

Review from The Adelaide Theatre Guide on line. FOLLY BRIDGE Spotlight Theatre Company Holden Street Theatres Until 10 Oct 2009 Review by Brian Godfrey Beautifully written by South Australian playwright, Kelvin Butcher, “Folly Bridge” examines the relationship between Oxford don, Charles Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) and young Alice Liddell (the inspiration behind “Alice In Wonderland” and “Through The Looking Glass”). But beware, the play is not school holiday fare; delving as it does into the territory of paedophilia. Did Dodgson have sinister intentions or was he merely captivated by childhood innocence and the love of fantasy? Butcher handles a touchy subject sensitively and cleverly. He allows the audience to draw their own conclusion by presenting the story as an almost magical dream fantasy. Act One presents an idyllic English “summer wonderland” feel (aided by appropriate lighting from Tony Moore with marvellous scenic slides designed by Joanna Webb); while Act Two takes on a nightmarish “looking glass” quality, but with nice comic overtones. The only jarring note to Butcher’s work is the inclusion of lovely but unnecessary songs. They break the flow and tend to slow the rhythm of the play. Direction by Paula Carter is faultless. She seems to have the knack of making every little nuance and move count. These touches only help to heighten the comedy, drama and poignancy of the piece. Carter can cast a show brilliantly and “Folly Bridge” is no exception. Bridget Walters as elderly Alice commands the stage, sometimes without saying a word; as Dodgson, Alan Hendry gives one of his best ever performances, underplaying the role marvellously with an eternal youthfulness and innocence that has one wondering if the man was misjudged. Tricia Ryan is a believable younger, womanly Alice and a very silly but loveable White Queen; while Liz Windsor makes a perfectly straight-laced Mrs Liddell in the first half (even though she is almost out-acted by her hoop skirt), only to have a fantastic time as the Red Queen in the second. Other Carroll characters are played with gusto by Iris Petitt (the best White Rabbit ever!) and Bob Brady (though on Preview night, his Red King seemed a little out of time with the others). Another highlight has to be young Tara Licciardi (fictional Alice and Edith). She looks as if she jumped straight from Mr Carroll’s masterpiece, is gorgeous, can certainly act and has excellent projection for someone just starting to ‘tread the boards’. Remember her name - we should be hearing a lot more of it. This fine local production deserves to be seen by a large audience. It is a folly worth indulging in.