Tantrum Theatre’s Wonder is currently showing at the Civic Playhouse Theatre during the School holidays from the 6-16th of July. The one-hour play is a fabulous winter escape for the whole family. Wonder has a great caste of young actors. Anne Berry on Cello provides the backing music for the performance. This play is Toni Main’s debut as Tantrum Theatre’s Artistic Director.

Cordelia, Wonder’s central character, is played by Cordelia Hamilton-Russell, who does a fine job. Cordelia is a lonely girl without friends. She decides to run away from home, to escape the fighting of her parents and the bullying of her brother. She goes where everyone goes when they run away from home; to join the circus. After convincing the ‘Troupe de Wonder’ to give her a go, she joins the Troupe, only to discover that the circus performers are cursed and unable to speak!

This situation requires creative expression, including mime and physical theatre, as the characters communicate non-verbally to get to know each other’s stories, as they embark on a journey to mythical and magical places.

I enjoyed the journey of discovering each of the circus performer’s stories of how they became to be in the Troupe de Wonder. Each story is beautifully performed, revealing the tale behind the Ringmaster, Monkey-boy, Tall-man, Contorta, Strongman and the rest of the two dimensional circus personalities.

The simple sets, designed by Robyn McPherson and the solo Cello backing the performance, together with mime, encourage the imagination to take hold. We visit faraway lands, journey on a magic train and explore deep caves, home to monsters and dragons, with the Troup de Wonder and Cordelia.

This is a beautiful little play, suitable for kids of all ages (including grown-up kids!) If you are suffering from cabin fever, or just want to have a special treat with a trip out to the theatre, headout to see Tantrum Theatre’s Wonder.

‘Wonder’ Directed by Toni Main
Review by fern York, July 2011