The Arrival
Sat, 3 Dec 2011, 03:57 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Arrival
Sat, 3 Dec 2011, 03:57 pmIn 2006 ‘The Arrival’ won the West Australian Actors’ Equity Guild’s highly coveted ‘Best Production’ award.
After national and international tours, including major puppetry festivals in the USA and France, the Australian Champion of Puppetry has returned home to Fremantle as part of the International Sailing Championship. This flagship production is the perfect culmination to the company’s 30th anniversary of the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
This 3rd Annual Summer Season covers the school holidays, and runs until the 28th January - with a two-week break over Christmas and New Year. This action packed 50-minute spectacular is presented at the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, directly opposite Freo Train Station. Performances are at 10.00am and 1.00pm daily with evening shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 6.30 pm.
With only the evocative and poignant music of composer Lee Buddle, and quality sound effects – but absolutely no words - the story unfolds.
In silhouette, we see a man (Giri Mazzella) saying goodbye to his family. He is about to set out alone in search of a new land and perhaps a home where they will be happy and safe. With suitcase in hand and trilby tight on his head, he staggers onto the upper deck of a rough looking cargo ship and falls asleep. The sea is choppy and all he can dream about is the love of the ones he has left behind, and their tentacle like grip on his heart.
He arrives in a foreign port. He cannot speak a word of the lingo, he cannot read the language. He is penniless.
First he must pass the medicals, before setting out alone. Alone that is except for his new aquatic friend (puppet construction Jiri Zmitko and Kipling Smith) acquired on the journey.
He tries numerous places, looking for somewhere to stay and eventually he finds a room. With a business-like landlady (Karen Hethey) he must pay the rent in full and on time. Because he is totally broke, she forces him out to find work. Eventually a kindly road sweeper (Sanjiva Margio) comes to his aid.
No matter how kind the people around him, the tentacle grip of home haunts him. Will he ever see his family again?
Mention Shaun Tan’s book and everyone’s first comment relates to the exquisite illustrations. Will this Company be able to recreate the beauty? They certainly did. Onto a white background of roller blinds, trapdoors, ramps and doors is projected the most amazing, dreamlike digital animations, created by Michael Barlow, with the backdrops and versatile set designed by Jiri Zmitko.
Slowly these flats become alive and interactive. With split second timing, the man’s messages leave his hand and fly off into the sky on their way to his loved ones.
Whether the ship was rolling or the streets flashing by, Giri’s timing and top quality acting was precise. He moon walked as the background rolled by, swayed with the elements. The animation and the actors were one. Amazing technical skills from production manager, Karen Cook and stage manager Damon Lockwood, with fine lighting from Graham Walne.
With half the population of WA now being immigrants, most will have seen the bronze statue of a lone figure and his suitcase on the Fremantle quayside. Many will have looked and wondered what could have been the story behind this man. With a highly experienced team, director Philip Mitchell builds up a fast moving production, and presents a tale that even the youngest can follow. By omitting the words, Tan gives us answers which many of us recognise instantly, irrespective of our culture, age or background. This soulful story is easily understood by 7 year olds, but even children of only 4 or 5 will appreciate the hilarious puppets, and the pure spectacle of this visually stunning, prize winning show.
Definitive entertainment for all of the family. The performance I saw had three curtain calls – for a kids’ puppet show! To win the ‘Best Production Award’ against major Shakespearean productions, thrillers and comedies, this exceptionally clever production had to be complete and perfect. This was.
In 2006 ‘The Arrival’ won the West Australian Actors’ Equity Guild’s highly coveted ‘Best Production’ award.
After national and international tours, including major puppetry festivals in the USA and France, the Australian Champion of Puppetry has returned home to Fremantle as part of the International Sailing Championship. This flagship production is the perfect culmination to the company’s 30th anniversary of the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
This 3rd Annual Summer Season covers the school holidays, and runs until the 28th January - with a two-week break over Christmas and New Year. This action packed 50-minute spectacular is presented at the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, directly opposite Freo Train Station. Performances are at 10.00am and 1.00pm daily with evening shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 6.30 pm.
With only the evocative and poignant music of composer Lee Buddle, and quality sound effects – but absolutely no words - the story unfolds.
In silhouette, we see a man (Giri Mazzella) saying goodbye to his family. He is about to set out alone in search of a new land and perhaps a home where they will be happy and safe. With suitcase in hand and trilby tight on his head, he staggers onto the upper deck of a rough looking cargo ship and falls asleep. The sea is choppy and all he can dream about is the love of the ones he has left behind, and their tentacle like grip on his heart.
He arrives in a foreign port. He cannot speak a word of the lingo, he cannot read the language. He is penniless.
First he must pass the medicals, before setting out alone. Alone that is except for his new aquatic friend (puppet construction Jiri Zmitko and Kipling Smith) acquired on the journey.
He tries numerous places, looking for somewhere to stay and eventually he finds a room. With a business-like landlady (Karen Hethey) he must pay the rent in full and on time. Because he is totally broke, she forces him out to find work. Eventually a kindly road sweeper (Sanjiva Margio) comes to his aid.
No matter how kind the people around him, the tentacle grip of home haunts him. Will he ever see his family again?
Mention Shaun Tan’s book and everyone’s first comment relates to the exquisite illustrations. Will this Company be able to recreate the beauty? They certainly did. Onto a white background of roller blinds, trapdoors, ramps and doors is projected the most amazing, dreamlike digital animations, created by Michael Barlow, with the backdrops and versatile set designed by Jiri Zmitko.
Slowly these flats become alive and interactive. With split second timing, the man’s messages leave his hand and fly off into the sky on their way to his loved ones.
Whether the ship was rolling or the streets flashing by, Giri’s timing and top quality acting was precise. He moon walked as the background rolled by, swayed with the elements. The animation and the actors were one. Amazing technical skills from production manager, Karen Cook and stage manager Damon Lockwood, with fine lighting from Graham Walne.
With half the population of WA now being immigrants, most will have seen the bronze statue of a lone figure and his suitcase on the Fremantle quayside. Many will have looked and wondered what could have been the story behind this man. With a highly experienced team, director Philip Mitchell builds up a fast moving production, and presents a tale that even the youngest can follow. By omitting the words, Tan gives us answers which many of us recognise instantly, irrespective of our culture, age or background. This soulful story is easily understood by 7 year olds, but even children of only 4 or 5 will appreciate the hilarious puppets, and the pure spectacle of this visually stunning, prize winning show.
Definitive entertainment for all of the family. The performance I saw had three curtain calls – for a kids’ puppet show! To win the ‘Best Production Award’ against major Shakespearean productions, thrillers and comedies, this exceptionally clever production had to be complete and perfect. This was.