Kindertransport

I had seen this play a few years ago so I was intrigued as to how this small theatre was going to produce this play in the Round. The setting for the play is an Attic room in a family house and producing this in the round with the audience sat no more than two or three feet away gave this a very intimate feel, almost making us feel as though we were the walls of this attic room looking down on a family coming to terms with themselves.

The set did indeed resemble a chaotic attic room, boxes everywhere, all the paraphernalia of a house full of odds and ends, an old pram, sewing machine, dolls house, books, unwanted detritus of a family home but also all the objects that might be useful or can’t bear to dispose of. The use of old trunks/boxes and cushions to sit on and the subtle use of lighting and props defined the areas used to emphasise different periods of time from late 1930’s Germany, Wartime Britain and the present day. This was not a set that was overcrowded but was authentic, thus allowing the cast to move freely around and through the set, Lighting design was very good, illuminating as required, being such an intimate space diction was clear and easy to hear from all the cast, emotions from all could be seen and heard. Costumes and hairstyles were very appropriate for the era’s indicated. All the props were very well thought through, I could actually read the letters, the Ratcatcher book was original German and the original Jewish book (sorry I can’t remember the title).

The role of Eva as a child is pivotal to the story, without a portrayal of the emotions of a child leaving home and family, moving to not only to a strange country but also a home with strangers with play would not draw the audience in. Emma Fraser excelled in this role, the emotion in her voice, the emotion on her face, the interactions with her mother in Germany, the relationship with Lil in wartime Britain. The inflections in her voice, the sulkiness, fear and fun displayed in her face. Growing from a child to a teenager was also well portrayed. Her interaction with all characters portrayed by Ted as the Ratcatcher, the German Guard, the British Official etc. Learning German with a good accent, this was an excellent performance.

Eva as a mother, now called Evelyn was also an excellent portrayal by Jo Sherry, a mother who has intentionally wiped her Jewishness and most of her past. The relationship with her daughter and her adoptive Mother Lil was also full of emotion in voice, face and actions. I would have expected nothing less from Jo, not quite the same opportunity move between time periods but certainly to explore and portray her relationships and how she came to terms with her past and with her mother Helga. One could really feel the pain of the relationship, a faultless performance.

There was another great performance from Wendy Coles as Lil, both as a mother supporting a young Eva looking to bring her parents from Germany to Britain. Then as the mother of the adult Evelyn and grandmother of Faith seeking to bring them together through the upheaval of untold stories coming out, she portrayed concern and the firmness with authority throughout the play and had some lovely interaction with the young Eva.

The role of Helga was interestingly portrayed by Erica Lane, this role was played so well that I could actually believe that I was seeing a 1930’s Jewish German mother, desperately trying to protect a beloved child as she prepared to send her to safety, holding it all together and then as a post war mother with a child who no longer wants her. These emotions were played out to great effect, another good performance.

Libby Baker had the difficult task of portraying daughter Faith who finds secrets and wants to know the truth. She starts as a daughter looking for goods and chattels for moving to a new home, becoming inquisitive with what she finds and then angry and distraught that her mother won’t talk to her, another very well portrayed character.

Edward (Ted) Fraser has the fun part, stomping on to the stage initially as the Ratcatcher silently moving and staring at Eva, but also portraying a Nazi, a Border Official, a Postman etc., all effectively brought to live. Whether it be goosestepping across the stage, carrying a clip border as an English organiser, different accents, a different hat and prop indicating the different characters, although walk on roles they needed effective performances, which of course they were.

This was a play based on characters and emotions brought to life so effectively, well cast, well directed and great thought-provoking entertainment.

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