Polish is a funny thing in theatre. Of course it’s impressive when everything is shiny, slick and digitally controlled but there’s something about seeing the puppeteers’ strings that makes the puppetry more interesting. A show that doesn’t depend on technical wizardry but is well wrought and smart is a real treat.
Around the World in 80 Days is playful theatre that takes us back to first principles: clever ideas, inventive staging and an accomplished cast who infect the audience with the fun they are having on stage.
It’s unsophisticated, undemanding and a hell of a lot of fun.
First published in 1873, Around the World has reappeared in various guises for 150 years. Contemporary audiences probably know it best as a Jackie Chan movie. A Victorian gentleman named Phileas Fogg accepts a bet to circumvent the earth in 80 days. He travels with his manservant, Passepartout, and is pursued by a bumbling policeman, Inspector Fix, who believes Fogg has robbed the Bank of England to fund his travels.
The adaptation by Toby Hulse takes the rather tired Jules Verne classic and turns it into contemporary farce, full of digs at the Victorian image of modernity and scattered with self-referential asides. Three actors take the key roles in the story but also swap hats (literally and figuratively) to play dozens of additional roles, delivering at madcap speed the kind of theatre that looks simple but depends on military precision.
The play takes 10 minutes or so to really get going – those running jokes need to be set up and we do need to understand the gist of the story. Then it’s time to have fun and it’s a toss-up who has more – actors or audience.
The cast of Ian Stenlake, Pia Miranda and Grant Piro are all excellent choices. Each has a mobile face and tremendous audience appeal, and they play fair – sharing the stage and providing a foil for one another’s star moments.
The set, by Merinda Backway, is dominated by a huge clock and an assortment of clockwork pieces, boxes and rails that are put to work in increasingly inventive and amusing ways.
Terence O’Connell’s production is funny and frenetic but never out of control. Watch out for the elephant ride and the chase scene atop a train – both splendid examples of effective, simple staging and skillful acting. Afterwards you wonder how they did it but at the time there is no doubt you know exactly what you are looking at.
I hesitate to call this a family show only because the phrase has such a bad rap and tends to turn off those who have forgetten the child at heart. This is emphatically not a show you take the children to and then sit tolerantly, resisting checking your phone only because it is a bad example. It’s a show any age can enjoy. You might even get the teens to crack a smile.
Theatre that makes few demands and gives generously is rare, especially if you discount the Noël Coward reruns and brassier musicals. Around the World in 80 days is a simple pleasure.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Around the World in 80 Days
Adapted for the stage by Toby Hulse
Directed by Terence O’Connell
Alex Theatre, St Kilda
Until 4 September
