Charing Cross Theatre
Playing until 21st September 2024
Photo credit: Mark Senior
Review {AD-PR Gifted}
Clarice (Réka Jónás) and her sister, Cassandra (Lily De La Haye), screenwriter and director, respectively, are in the process of producing a movie when they encounter a wandering fabulist, Julian (Dan Smith) and his friend Pupuppini (Constantine Andronikou). Julian and Clarice hit it off almost instantaneously, but Julian must contend with Clarice’s scientist father, Count Petronius (James Paterson) and his negative perception of magicians, particularly in Mussolini’s Italy.
The story and music present an uplift and at times, slapstick, feel to them. These are largely reflected by the actors and the directions given by John Walton. The sisters present contrasting views, while Clarice is led by hear heart, Cassandra is more rational and is steered by her head instead. However, despite the fact that the story pushed hard for this love at first sight narrative, there is next to no explanation as to why Clarice and Julian have fallen in love or very little is conveyed in terms of what they like about each other. Although this is a recurring trope in romcoms, when this is combined with musical numbers and slapstick scenarios, it makes the relationship far less relatable or believable. This is made even more jarring considering Clarice had expressed her reluctance to marry early in the story and this seems to have been disregarded the moment Julian enters the stage.
Furthermore, the film career of the sisters and their father’s scientific interest are only presented at a superficial level and there is much more that could be explored in this regard. While the story itself is fairly straight forward, it takes quite a bit of time for any real progression to take place. Should some of these slower elements in Act I be shed, there will be more time available to explore the characters’ relationships and their individual aspirations.
Despite the weak and tenuous plot, the production is saved by the actors’ soaring vocals. The actors’ deliveries are well-rehearsed, powerful and perfectly complements the specific scene in which they are paired with. If nothing else, the actors are able to create a fun and dynamic mood on stage, allowing the audience to consistently indulge themselves in this silly and physical comedy.
Magic is an essential part of Julian’s character and he has performed a number of feats on stage, none of which could be described as spectacular feats and lack the wow factor to invoke excitement and it was challenging to see how they would charm a young maiden into falling in love or persuade avid sceptics of such illusions.
The Fabulist leaves much to be desired, lacking in both story and grandeur that one might expect from illusionists. Over the span of a two-hour two Acts story, it felt as though barely anything had happened, leaving the audience as perplexed at the end of the show as they were at the start on why and how all of these things happened.
Creatives
Book & Lyrics: James P. Farwell
Music: Giovanni Paisello
Director: John Walton
Musical Director & Orchestrator: Bobby Goulder
Set & Costume Designer: David Shields
Lighting Designer: Fridthjofur Thorsteinsson
Sound Designer: Andrew Johnson
Movement Director: Sean Kempton
Magic Consultant: Harry De Cruz
Casting Director: Debbie O’Brien
Producer: Steven M Levy for Charing Cross Theatre Productions
Comments