Harlekin by company Derevo tells the story of the man behind the classic character Harlequin. It's not a biography of Harlequin, nor the story of the actors who have portrayed him, but a depiction of the tortured soul of the character himself. The plot, such as it is, tells of his love for Columbine - who uses him, tears out his heart and casts him aside - and his friendship with Little Monkey.

Anton Adasinsky playing Harlekin is flawless from start to finish. His finely-tuned body is used to communicate not only the tragedy at the heart of this comic figure, but also to create a real person out of the fragmented history of the character. The only possible possible criticism is that having created a believable character, why not let that character be changed by the events of his life? This could add an extra dimension to the show beyond the dream portrayed.

Elena Yarovaya is superb as Columbine and then Little Monkey. The fact that she doesn't steal the show speaks to the strength of the show, Anton Adasinsky's brilliance, and the supporting nature of the characters she plays - for in any other production it would be impossible to look away from her.

This is a seemingly-deliberately low-tech production, but it feels as if a lot more work has gone into engineering it than first impressions suggest. The use of a red-bell-pepper to represent a heart is wonderfully naïve but at the same time delightfully apt - in the context of a show in which most items are depicted by wire-outlines, and a simple hand-gesture changes mood and areas of set.

Derevo excel with this production of Harlekin. They clearly understand what they are capable of, and make full use of their powers to captivate and create that most elusive of things - a believable fantasy. No stale replicas of a vision nor pale versions of a dream here: Derevo take the dream itself and present it with such conviction that it feels as if someone reaching out to touch it might be sucked into the dream - and never wake up.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Anton Adasinsky - Harlekin / Watch Spring / Hurdy-Gurdist. Elena Yarovaya - Columbine / Hungry Pieretta / Devoted Monkey / Dutch Nurse / The Harlekin's Heart. Anna Budanova - Puppet Master / HeartHunter / Louis-Barabas / The Crow's Shadow / The Red Air.

Company Credits: Ideas & Conception - Anton Adasinsky & Derevo. Director - uncredited. Lighting Designer - Igor Fomin. Sound Designer (UK) - Daniel Williams. Technical Operator - uncredited. Stage & Props - Andrey Bobylev. Costumes - Anna Frumson. Manager - Anna Bogodist. Producer - uncredited. Company - Derevo. Website - www.derevo.org.

END

(c) Stephen Redman 2010

reviewed Saturday 21 August 2010 / Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com