Alex and Evie and the Forever Falling Rain

Alex and Evie and the Forever Falling Rain ran for a very short season as part of State and Play and Fringe World, in Studio Underground. Presented by Every Other Theatre Company, this sweet, beautifully presented show was a perfect treat for the last few days of school holidays.

On entering the auditorium, audiences were entertained and warmed up by actor Jeremy Hansen who plays Alex, seeking to make friends in the crowd. Lovely that this came back into the story later, but that families who entered at the last minute did not miss content.

This new show by Sophie Minissale is at least partly an allegory for our times. Young Evie has moved to a place where it rains all the time. Fed up with being stuck inside, she joins with new friend Alex on an adventure to stop the rain. Part epic quest, part friendship tale, this lovely little story is reassuring and fun, with some lovely messages, including that its ok to be scared and that fear is sometimes necessary to get you through the things you need to do (a great message for kids facing vaccinations at the moment).

Lovely teamwork from the actors in the title roles. Courtney Henri, as Evie, is a loveable, slightly prickly little girl who is lonely and out of sorts. Courtney captures her complexities beautifully, once again shining in a very youthful role (she seems to be getting progressively younger). Jeremy Hansen is a wonderfully open, fabulously enthusiastic Alex, who is likeable and believable.

Gemma Sharpe brings beautifully wry humour and fabulous facial expression to the role of the Evie’s cat Amadazeus - also very credible despite the unlikelihood of a talking cat (trust me, you have probably met a cat like this). Rebecca Fingher completes the cast, bringing gravitas and elegance to the role of the Storm Tamer and puppeteering the role of Pelican.

Patrick Middleton’s organic sound design supports the show well, while Anais Popoff-Asotoff’s lighting design creates the storm and rain well and allows for the use of some clever shadow puppetry. Bec Simpkins’ set design, most of which is two cleverly designed truck pieces, allows for multiple locales and some clever set and property ‘gags”. Jamie Fodor’s costumes also help to make this show look great.

Alex and Evie and the Forever Falling Rain is just really likeable. A nice little gift of a show, with some beautiful messages, that was well performed and left its audience smiling.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: Sophie Minissale Photos