The trees reach high, their branches framing the full moon, their trunks providing hiding places for the possums … and the magic. Using a faithful recreation of Vivas’ pastel-tinted illustrations, production designer Emma Vini stretches her set to use as much of the stage as possible.
Thus the ‘written magic’ is confirmed and childish belief in it endorsed! Hush’s little dictionary lights up as it opens and Grandma Poss ‘magics’ a light from it, throwing it towards an invisible Hush, where it, too, becomes invisible. Her book of magic, for example, opens miraculously. Magician/illusion designer Adam Mada joins with magician Bruce Glen to make Grandma Poss’s tricks possible.
Mixing movement, mime puppetry, humour and, of course, magic, director Sandra Eldridge brings together a cast of creative theatre makers to breathe life into the characters, and the illusion that weaves through the story. The gentleness of Grandma Poss and her journey around Australia with her invisible grandchild, Hush, is ‘magically’ recreated in this imaginative adaptation. It continues that commitment with this delightful interpretation of Mem Fox and Julie Vivas’ treasured story about faith and identity. Monkey Baa has a dedicated commitment to introducing kids to good theatre by bringing the Australian books they love authentically to stage. Touring nationally – link for dates at end of review. Based on the book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas, adapted by Eva Di Cesare and Sandra Eldridge.
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