Lorna Irvine reviews an 'absolutely beautiful' production.
Ostensibly a show for kids, The Letter J's production is absolutely beautiful: a show which is accessible, full of wonder and profoundly moving.
A young girl, played by Ruth Janssen, is both sad-eyed clown and impish child in striped tights. Missing her grandad, she goes on an emotional voyage of memory where she meets a talking mouse, goes to the moon and explores huge gardens. Providing sardonic one-liners as a version of himself and loving support as Grandad is musician Jon Bishop, and on various instruments and singing gorgeously throughout is the wonderful Judith Williams.
Kate Bonney's design is a vintage treasure trove, with a gramophone, suitcases and drawers, from which bubbles and glitter balls appear. Projections from Tim Reid augment the magical transitions of childhood, as the girl tumbles, cries and comes to realise she will always have special memories of her beloved Grandad, represented by sweets falling from coat pockets and the songs that they shared together.
Janssen deftly captures the sense of bewilderment, playfulness and poignancy, Bishop emulates the tender wisdom crafted by elders and Williams excels at mimickry—particularly during a hilarious, plum-mouthed Shipping Forecast parody. There are many well-known renderings of children's songs such as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and My Grandfather's Clock, but the original songs Greenfingers and Man on the Moon are fantastic too—Williams can sing anything.
Visually stunning and melancholic, but also with the merry anarchy of indie gigs, Grandad and Me is a visceral reminder of loss, sweet enough for young kids, but layered, surreal and witty enough for adults.The children are captivated throughout, and their parents are in tears. A small, timeless triumph—enough to melt your heart like ice cream.
Part of Made In Scotland 2015. Run ended
www.theletterj.org
www.summerhall.co.uk
www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com
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