Trick of the Light presents a charming and an enjoyable addition to your afternoon in the form of
The story itself is a satisfying journey through the book and into the very nature of books
Howell’s performance is warm and engaging, balancing the roles of storyteller and multiple characters expertly. He enraptured the children in the front row with ease. The script is similarly friendly, occasionally snapping away from the action with amusing quips to break the tension when the script delves into darker territory. The story itself is a satisfying journey through the book and into the very nature of books. Children will easily be able to follow the story without trouble.
The use of props is simple but effective. A light and the top of the gramophone make a perfect monster for the story, complemented by an effective musical soundscape by Tane Upjohn Beatson. The use of a pop-up book to tell parts of the story is also a very effective technique, providing a visual anchor to the words of the storyteller. A criticism would be that many of the puppet figures used were quite small and would have been increasingly difficult to see from the back of the auditorium. The show bills itself as intimate but could perhaps have adapted better to the sight challenges of this particular space.
The Bookbinder is recommended to anyone in need of a good story, traditionally told yet fairly unique in its content.
