The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
(Review Complete)
SYNOPSIS
The action takes place in Cornwall and around the world. It is the story of Benjamin Button who is born an old man, complete with suit, pipe and walking stick! He is initially kept prisoner in his parent home but escapes and, as he gradually grows younger instead of older, he travels around looking for answers that will help him to understand his life.
REVIEW
I had the good fortune on Thursday night to see the delightful musical version of The Curious Case on Benjamin Button at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant. Although I was aware of the American movie version, I had never seen it so didn’t really know what to expect. And I was enchanted!
The original short story by F Scott Fitzgerald was set in mid 19th Century America but writer Jethro Compton has cleverly updated it to 20th Century Cornwall, and it works brilliantly!
Darren Clark’s Cornish-style folk music, played on a plethora of instruments by the highly talented cast, sets the tone beautifully and I could only marvel at their incredible dexterity as they played, danced and moved furniture around the stage with deceptive ease.
Compton’s writing is both funny and very moving as it charts Benjamins struggle to make some sense of his life. The scene where his wife dies but he is, by this time, a young man, brought tears to my eyes and the description by the Company of Benjamin’s regression through childhood into babyhood is heart rending.
At the end the audience, quite rightly, leapt to their feet! One cannot help but be impressed by this wonderfully integrated performance and I would give it an unqualified
5 out of 5 stars!
Reviewer Julia Rufey