'Put your blindfold on and imagine a lone wolf' suggests Oliver Davey. He describes the image to the mind perfectly. Wolves are evocative, powerful. It is an original start to a show, though somewhat stilted and a-theatrical. But once the blindfolds have come off, the bare studio comes to life.

A cold howling burgeons into Chris Earley's rich musical underscore. The stage is washed with cold arctic-blue light. Oliver Davey is transformed into Dr David Mech, founder of The International Wolf Center. This character is circumstantial: Oliver Davey's role is to create and maintain the wintry atmosphere while steering the show along. His emotionally-grounded performance at the heart of a whirlwind of colour and action emphasises that it is the explorer who is the true 'lone wolf'.

The entrance of Billie Achilleos's Pacino The Wolf - a life-size puppet operated by three actors - is stunning. Pacino is a majestic creature with a strangely human expression of wisdom and enchanting to watch. Though at times he is sloppily-handled and his elegance wavers, 'the beast' is at the heart of the production.

Of course, no children's show devised around the subject of wolves would be complete without an interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood. Wolves uses the fable to anchor its montage-like structure. The re-telling is entertaining. Special mention must go to Will Gibson whose brilliant comic timing and excellent drag act make him a sensational wolf and grandmother.

It is not all sweetness and light. Will Gibson licks at the grandmother's bloody hand before playing a game of high-fives with it - Granny has not been swallowed whole. She is not coming back to life, and nor is her darling Red Riding Hood. This is a surprisingly sinister interpretation, laced with sexual predation. Rosie Besant's Red Riding Hood is one who coquettishly applies make-up and puffs her hair. The narration of the subtext is, unfortunately, awkward. This is a children's show, after all. The message is clear to those for whom it is intended. Labouring the point destroys the magic cast by a fairy-tale well told - it drags the show down to the level of high-school 'do-good' theatre.

Will Gibson is undoubtedly the star. A sequence heavily reliant on humorously-handled audience participation in which he plays American show-host and scientist Dr Mike Spark is inspired and confident. His characters are wonderfully observed. 'David, are you coming David?' cries a crystal female voice to the silent explorer. The production begins to wind down, leaving only Oliver Davey on stage, his face cleverly uplit by his book on wolves. The vulnerability of the solo male and the solitary wolf stirs powerful emotions. The show closes poignantly.

Though at times the production is a bit slow, and parts could beneficially be sheared from the script - the two sung musical numbers are out of place, and seem to have no obvious connection to the pieces; and the fact-giving sessions drag - it is charmingly worked. Cutting this show to a more child-friendly forty minutes would improve it. With some fine-tuning it could explode into life.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Rosie Besant - Little Red Riding Hood. Oliver Davey - Dr David Mech. Chris Earley - Guitar. Fionnula Hainey - Chorus / Various. Laura Hollick - Mother / Chorus / Various. Will Gibson - Grandmother / Wolf / Dr Mike Spark. Chris Gray - Wood-Cutter / Chorus / Various. Ellie Walker - Chorus / Various. Poppy Whitbread - Chorus / Various. Lucy Williams - Chorus / Various.

Company Credits: Devised By - Running Torch Theatre Company. Director - Corky St Clare. Musical Director - Chris Earley. Pacino The Wolf Puppet By - Billie Achilleos. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - Lizzie Parkinson. Production Assistance - Justine Harrison. Production Assistance - David Thackersnack. With Music By - Bruce Cockburn and Edgar L Edens. Commendations – Virgin Atlantic, Dan Herd, Mark at Blind Summit via Ben Figgis, Joe Spencer and Chestnut Farm. Producer - uncredited. Company - Running Torch Theatre Company. Memorable quotes from Corky St Clair.

END

(c) Rebecca Gibson 2009

reviewed Thursday 13 August 09 / The Space @ Venue 45, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com