A mismatched group of animals wait in the shadow of the wave, facing the prospect of being left behind. A tortoise, a chicken, an elephant, a lion, a fox and a hare all queue patiently. Not forgetting Anthony, the ant. Act One productions doesnt fight stereotypical animal characterisation. Tom Wansey plays a finickity old Tortoise who cant say his rs, while Ciaran Price enunciates fully as the conservative blue Elephant. Sophie Browns opening sequence as the hare is beautifully choreographed, and she brings this balletic ability to the rest of her performance as a refreshing addition to the other characters who have been waiting for so long already (the hare of course fell asleep on the way). This use of animal cliché is not overdone, but used intelligently to lend a warmth to the production and raise a laugh from the audience. There is a particularly wonderful sequence in which a dramatic fox (Rhys Williams) recounts the trials they are holding to pick the two best examples of each species; foxes must outfox each other, snakes be the most slippery, rhinos the most thick skinned. This is all enabled by the well-designed set posts and ropes become boats, boxing rings, jungle vines and oars and are manipulated with skill and precision. Music from the onstage musicians (who double as a trio of hilarious news-reporting fish) supports the drama, and often swells into song the animals went in two by two becomes the animals waited in the queue and haunts the production. Funky Time is also a real pleasure. The tie-died boiler suits that each creature wears are creative genius on the part of the costume designer; perfectly customised to create a vibrant group, each suit is individualised according to their species, with an umbrella as a tortoise shell, rags as tails and carefully furred ears.This is a beautifully conceived production that brings the physical and the fable together to create a funny and touching show. Working in jokes about the bankers and coalition governments, The Ark turns a modern eye to the old tale and winks.
