The Cabin

The Cabinreceived a really positive accolade from the audience and the foyer was abuzz with enthusiasm on opening night.  The kids are exhilarating and energetic and the performance is funny and fun.  My plus one and I had an enjoyable time.

Emily Tomlins and Joseph O’Farrell are perfect comedic foils for each other.   Both are consummate and engaging performers.  Tomlins’s character is dour and keen to keep everything ticking over and in its place with an emphasis on what is ‘not correct’ and making sure the ‘housekeeping’ is sorted and JOF (O’Farrell) - just keen to get on with it.  But get on with what? 

Well it is a wacky funny ‘sort of horror show’ with references to the history of Theatre, calling on greats such as Brecht, Becket and Artaud, who was hysterically linked to The Matrix through labeling it ‘Theatre of Cruelty.’

Lighting by Jen Hector is over the top.  Teenagers lurk in the recesses, dance behind oversized shower-curtains and hammer out threatening sounds when required.  Guitarist Chris Green strums out some awesome heavy rock while Disgruntled Teen Guitarist Mariela Barajas Anderson is on stage most of the time.  She mimes this virtuosity.  And five fabulous gung-ho youngsters wear highly decorated boxes over their heads to take on the role of mutated breakfast cereals.

The show is a not too horrifying homage to the undead but very engaging and zany.  There is a marvelous animated work of kid’s drawings that is narrated by O’Farrell.  I have to say I so desperately wanted to hear children’s voices here to further enhance their inspired drawings.

Ultimately fun and enjoyable, although like the hazy screens of the set design (Darryl Cordell) I got the sense that the actual input of the children, from numerous local schools and other world wide workshops, had been appropriated by the adults and therefore the purity of their voices had been muted.  Comparisons are naturally made with the stunning work of St Martin’s Youth Arts Centre For The Ones Who Walk Away, an installation presented in Brunswick in 2017.  In this instance, though carefully supported by adults, it was the kids who performed for us.

There can be no doubting the sincerity of the makers of The Cabin, but it feels like it would more appropriately be labeled: A horror show inspired by genuine, strong and interesting ideas from kids - written, developed and mostly presented by adults.

However, certainly a must if youth theatre is an interest.

Suzanne Sandow

Photographer: Bryony Jackson

Credits

Leading Artist/Performer – Joseph O’Farrell

Co-devisor/Performer – Emily Tomlins

Director – Sarah Austin

Set Design – Darryl Cordell

Sound Design – Steph O’Hara

Lighting – Jen Hector

Costume Design - Emily Barrie

Assistant Director – Ben Adams

Production Manager – Rose Pidd

Assistant Stage Manager – Emma Vize

Operator – Corinth Walkeden

Animator – Paul Barritt

Disgruntled Teen Guitarist – Mariela Barajas Anderson

Guitarist – Chris Green

Producers – Jo Porter and Kate Hancock

Slides by Patrick O’Farrell

Foyer design by Milly Yenken

Starring:  Zara Barajas Anderson, Hunter Bishop, Chase Bryant, Joshua McDonald, Archie Coffey, Evie Violet Fuggle, Alice Kimpton Drake, Manha Naseer, Billy Page, Issy Rothenbuehler.