THEATRE REVIEW: Malory Towers ★★★★

Malory Towers
The Passenger Shed, Bristol
Friday 19th July - Sunday 18th August 2019

After the critical success from Wise Children, Emma Rice's first production under her new company of the same name, she has turned to Enid Blyton's Malory Towers series as a tribute to the books, which were released between 1946 - 1951, for her latest inspiration. For many of the audience at this particular performance, the majority of whom would be at the final if not early stages of secondary school, Rice's adaption gives hope and friendship to those, dazzling spectacularly with this stunning production which mixes technical aspects such as video projection to enhance the imagination.

This production of Malory Towers epitomises Theatre in the way that we see the craft as escapism from our real lives; though very much an ensemble piece, Rose Shallop takes the role and the main centre of our attention as Wendy Lou, a student from the present transported to the past, where her shy exterior is taunted and tease by her peers, especially from Gwendoline Lacey, portrayed with menace from Rebecca Collingwood.

Izuka Hoyle comes into the mix as the strong-minded Alicia Johns, whilst Reneé Lamb brings a cheeky but overall innocent interior of Alicia Johns on the stage, and both clearly sharing alot of chemistry of stage, nothing of a suprise from two of the original cast of Six the Musical, and while Mirabelle Gremaud brings a sweetness and class with order to Irene Dupont, it's Francesca Mills who shines the brightest on stage as Sally Hope, with confidence and feistiness to her character, bringing the idea of complete understanding of her counterpart, with a smile that would warm any cold heart and energy that bounces between her peers on stage.

Vinnie Heaven completes the cast as Bill Robinson, whose personal journey away from the stage is mirrored in such a subtle and straightforward manner that we truly accept the person who we see on stage. It's a brave move from Emma Rice, but is one of many that completely excels and does justice to the character, changing the tone from the original books to bring the creations to life for a modern audience, something the whole creative team should be praised for. It would also be wrong not to mention Pianist Stephanie Hockley who is added into the mix, and even though visible off-stage, she is a pleasure to watch as she moves from the piano to kazoo, ukulele in the interval to an angelic voice to provide the harmonies in songs, especially in the second act; she keeps the show running with her many talents and hopefully will, along with the acting on stage, inspire a new generation to pick up an instrument and learn something new!

In terms of the technical aspects, Lez Brotherston's design is grand and multi purposeful, with a scene involving a diving board and the sea becoming a highlight of the whole performance, and clearly one with a spark of intelligence when working alongside Simon Baker as the Sound & Video Designer to create some jaw dropping effects, especially flowing into the climax of both acts. Though at times Malcolm Rippeth's lighting can seem unfocused in action and brightness, his use of the limited rigged lighting following this pop-up auditorium is wise and at times really immerses you into the world that Blyton once invisioned inside her mind, and hopefully does so with justice.

Overall, Malory Towers is a certain triumph for the Wise Children team, inspiring a younger and new generation into the world of theatre and the thought to escape from the surroundings around them and allow to transported into a world that teaches the true meaning of friendship, inclusion, and teamwork, whilst having a little fun on the way!