21.87°C Paul T. Davies reviews Flumps, a Mercury original production now playing at the Mercury Studio.
It’s so good to see the Mercury supporting local writers and developing new work, making the Studio space a hive of activity and new writing. Local playwright Emma Jo Pallett, an alumna of the Mercury Creatives scheme, has written a strong piece about neglect and how it is often ignored by local communities and people.
Felicity and her elder sibling, Harvey, have been abandoned by their mother, spending the summer surviving on leftovers, stealing, and relying on ingenuity and Flumps. The wolves keep circling, occasionally knocking at the door. Felicity is eight, bursting with energy and ideas, while Harvey carries the weight of their situation on older, frightened shoulders.
The script cleverly plays with childhood tropes, with many witty lines, and games created by the pair are used as survival techniques. But where is Mum, and when is she coming back?
It’s very well performed, and the characters are clear and engaging. Jodie Rose Hobson is excellent as Felicity, perfectly capturing childlike wonder, innocence, and, at times, a startling awareness about life and their situation. She pops with energy but also beautifully conveys sadness and moments of real need. Robyn Holdaway portrays the elder sibling very well, stepping into the maternal role and expressing the fear in Harvey’s world, with the script skilfully revealing the exact situation as the play progresses. At the performance I attended, the emotional reveal didn’t quite have the impact it seeks, but this will come as the play settles in.
The design by Kayla Teodora is excellent, glorious in its grubbiness, and around the caravan, there are hints of other lives, shops and the normality of everyday life.
There’s a wonderful running theme about pets, with some excellent puppetry and shadow play that adds delight to the production whilst also underlining the need for nurture and care. It could do with some editing, feeling a little too long, and there are many short scenes. Although each scene change is beautifully choreographed and accompanied by childhood music, the wolf at the door is sometimes too literal and repetitive. That said, Madeline Moore’s astute direction ensures the sibling bond and love is portrayed with conviction. This is a play not to be missed for its originality and dialogue.
Flumps at The Mercury Theatre runs until Saturday 14th June,
