Hull New Theatre – until 21 October 2017. Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
4****
I think I held my breath for this entire performance of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, I was, like the majority of the audience, mesmerised. Last night I was in a theatre where nobody moved or fidgeted or rattled sweet papers, the entire audience drawn into the story unfolding on stage.
Northern Ballet have adapted John Boyne’s novel “The Boy in Striped Pyjamas”, with choreography by Daniel de Andrade and an original music score by Gary Yershon. The story revolves around the young Bruno who moves with his family to the concentration camp “Out-With” when his Father becomes the Commandant there. He forms an unlikely friendship with Shmuel a young inmate of “Out-With”, the boy in the striped pyjamas.
This is a ballet where the music, the costumes, the lighting and the scenery enhance the dancing and feed into the tension and the horrors that are happening. The clever use of bright colour in Gretel and her mother’s clothes as they arrive at “Out-With” and the prettiness of Gretel’s dresses contrasting with the striped uniforms. Lighting that gave us light and shade and horrifying shadow. Electric fences that never left the stage and were a constant reminder of the reality of life. The music constantly built up the tension and then lightened it again.
Whenever The Fury ( Mindi Kulashe) slithered onto the stage the horror truly arrived and I swear the temperature in the theatre dropped by several degrees. The lighting, costume and music increased the malevolence on stage, this was an outstanding performance of evilness.
Matthew Koon gave a superb performance as Bruno, channeling a young boy’s movements beautifully, showing us gawky movements and the sheer joy of being alive. Filippo di Vilio’s, as Shmuel, at times reflected Bruno’s joy but clearly showed the horror and poignancy of his situation. Mention should also go to Antoinette Brooks-Daw as a very coquettish and spoilt Gretel.
Of course this is a story that cannot have a happy ending, but is certainly one that is thought provoking. As I left the theatre the talk around me was of the sacrifices made in the war and the necessity to stand up against evil.