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Please Right Back

 
Mark Harding Review by Mark Harding 4 Published: 5 Aug 2024 The Studio Show Dates: 2 Aug 2024-11 Aug 2024

If you haven't seen 1927 before, you should do so – their productions are magical. The story for this show is based on Suzanne Andrade's (writer and director) own childhood experiences of her father's time in prison. Tackling this topic from the point of view of the children and parents, with sympathy and deep understanding, is unusual; and a much welcomed expansion of empathy.

Elegance, ingenuity, surprise and delight

In famous 1927 style the show does not use sets but instead the actors perform against an animated projection. The result is to combine film animation with theatre. Warning: this summary does not do justice to the elegance, ingenuity, surprise and delight of the effects created!

Add to this, the company has a consistent ability to find remarkably talented performers. The actors are simply brilliant – singing, dancing and creating a rapport with the audience, while always remaining on ‘spike’ (being correctly lined up with the projection). And on my rough count the four actors must play well over 30 characters between them.

This show is suitable for both adults and children (recommended 10+). It would not be suitable for younger children as there is an unnerving sinister side – the audience enters to be greeted by two silent, unhappy children and a black and white all-seeing pulsing eye. This relates to the subplot involving a fictional (I hope!) school for the children of prisoner inmates which is used as a device to highlight society’s contrasting attitudes to the criminal ‘underclass’ and their children. Parents also need to bear in mind the show is long – 1 hour 45 minutes, including a short interval.

The show is based around the tall stories the father writes to his young daughter and son from prison as a way of keeping engaged with his children while insulating them from the truth of his absence, and as a means of mental escape for himself. In contrast, the monochrome school and its agent emphasise 'the useful' and despise the colourful imaginations of the children.

Fortunately, there is a happy ending – although the finale is tempered with a pointed sense of realism. This is not Disney: in the end, the world is not made better; instead, the family must deal with the hand they have been dealt through the power of imagination and love – and at least for moments, they find that this is enough.

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Performances

The Blurb:

SCOTTISH PREMIERE

Award-winning company 1927 combines fantastical animations with bold storytelling to tell the wild adventures of the mysterious Mr E.

Award-winning company 1927 returns to the International Festival with their new production, following acclaimed Festival performances Roots and The Magic Flute.

Combining handcrafted animation and bold storytelling, Please right back sweeps audiences into a magical, mischievous world, inspired by the writer-director's own childhood.

When Kim and Davey’s dad, Mr E, disappears, letters become his only means of communication. Imagination takes over as Mr E writes to his children to tell a creative version of traumatic events. Reality collides with fantasy, as we travel on a fast-paced journey through his wild adventure stories. Mr E’s letters are staged using song, dance, and absurd, subversive animations, as his stories become a kind of game between him and his children – a cathartic release in the face of distress.

Please right back explores the difficulties children go through when a parent leaves the family, while celebrating the power of the imagination to overcome hardship.

Supported by

A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

Performed byChardae Phillips, Jenny Wills, Lara Cowin, Stefan Davis Voice of Davey Patrick CopleyVoice of Davey Patrick Copley

Suzanne Andrade WriterSuzanne Andrade & Esme Appleton DirectorsPaul Barritt Film, Animation & Design Esme Appleton Co-Director Laurence Owen Music & Sound DesignSarah Munro Costume Design & Construction Ben Francombe, Andreas Karlaganis & Shelley Hastings DramaturgyGeorge Rennison AV Operator Chris Prosho Sound Mixer Nathan Johnson Production Manager

Will Close Rehearsal Associate Max Gallagher  Music Transcription Amber Cooper-Davies Animation Assistant Shaun Prickimage Animation Programming Support Fin MacNeil Rehearsal AV Op Support

Wigs adapted by Charlie Watkins Set (screens) built by Matt Fish, Martin Goddard & Danielle Williamson Emma Corck Prop Maker Marketing (Social Media) Glass Eye BREAD AND BUTTER PR Press Katrina Wesseling Associate Producer Jo Crowley Producer Additional recorded voice: Finn West, Hazel Bailey, Jude Rushforth, Karl Mengs, Lettie West, Suzanne Andrade & Teddy Hicks Green Screen performers: The cast & Adelaide Banks, Fin MacNeil, Manuel Asali, Mike Grundmann, Orlando Lawrence, Vanessa Lawrence & Will Close Workshop process performers: Will Close, Shamira Turner, Rose Robinson, Ursula Lansley-Early, Lara Cowin, Rowena Lennon, Anna Spearpoint, Kate Stokes & Kenny Cumino Thanks to: Leann Young, Lydia Hibbert, Anne Barritt, Melanie Bouvet, ARK, Fevered Sleep, Ani & the team at Oxford House and the Gulbenkian Arts Centre. Please right back is a 1927 & Burgtheater Vienna Co-production