“What I want to be when I grow up? Happy!” said Thomas Klopper, aged ‘nearly 10’. The audience was young and old and instantly charmed by Thomas played by a grown up Matthew Whittet. We were let into his imaginary world of tropical fish in the canal, his joy of reading and talking to a very present and comical Jesus (John Leary). He is also part of a post-war family dealing with just about everything.
The set of a giant book that was opened and re-opened with dreamy cartoon-like scenes was another character that took on a life of its own and provided a backdrop to each event. A musician (Jack Ward) playing music beautifully, added emotion with a range of instruments providing a childlike understanding of life and sound. The cast members also contributed to the ‘soundtrack’ by playing instruments themselves.
We were engaged within five seconds being brought into the world and gentle naivety of children pushing back the past dark war years and its impact on what is left of life. The script (Guss Kuijer) is full of witticisms and the audience responded with laughter and joy. The team of Richard Tulloch, Neil Armfield and Kim Carpenter produced a play that was delightful, funny, thoughtful and uplifting. This play, which addresses serious themes skilfully balanced with humour, is highly recommended for the young and young at heart.
Thomas’ father (John Gaden), a dry, deeply religious and angry man, his mother (Claire Jones), a weary and loving mother and Margot (Rebecca Massey), a sprightly teenager coming into her own, form a family living in Amsterdam and dealing with family secrets. On the sidelines is the observant neighbour, Mrs Van Ammersfoort, (Julie Forsyth), with the look and panache of the neighbourhood witch but who is really a war resistance survivor. Aunty Pie (Pamela Rabe), rebels by wearing trousers and Eliza (Bridie McKim), is Thomas’ love, despite being 16 years old and having a leather and hinged leg.
The lesson is about kindness and how Thomas’ gentle and whimsical heart breaks open the community as he desperately tries to resolve his father’s violence towards his mother. It is a journey of discovery around loneliness, fear and finding a sense of self. As each character breaks open, new life reveals itself and in a childlike manner, the adults discover their innocence and desires.
Audience participation was included with one hilarious action and young people are invited on to the stage. Serendipitously, a large group of schoolboys was in the audience and they bounded down the steps to joyfully join the cast and be ‘nearly 10 years old’ again. They took a group photo after to celebrate. And that was what the play was about; the celebration of kindness, innocence and people’s dreams, even if all it really amounts to is being happy.
To book tickets to The Book of Everything, please visit https://belvoir.com.au/productions/the-book-of-everything-3/.
Photographer: Brett Boardman
