Review: Stark Raven Mad

Stark Raven Mad took my family (three generations) on a fantastical poetry journey this morning, at On The Boards Theatre in Tingalpa. A mix of known and unknown, nonsense and gothic poetry was spun into a captivating hour for children and adults alike.

The delight of poetry was captured with simple and very effective costumes, visual props, and puppets, drawing focus to the skill of the performers’ dance, acting, and sound effects. The performers were incredibly expressive and engaging. Transitions between poems were amazingly smooth and well-timed.

My 2-year old nephew sat through the full hour, clapping, smiling, and cheering enthusiastically throughout. At the end, he commented that it was spooky and he liked it. He particularly enjoyed the skeleton, bird, and snake puppets, as well as watching his dad and other children take the stage.

Audience participation was a highlight throughout the show. The children loved playing many different roles, from roaring lions, through to cats and dogs, to ravens, and a “bust of pallas”.

Alice, Mary, and Amy skill as performers to make complex poems accessible to all exceeded what we might have thought possible. A fantastic production!