The sumptuously talented and Olivier Award-winning Complicite theater company proves that they know just how to include kids and adults in fun theatrical storytelling with the U.S. premiere of their new production, Lionboy, at the New Victory Theater.
This modern adventure story is performed on a circus-styled stage complete with flashing lights, overhead orbs, scary eyeball-filled drum sets and projections that are surprisingly effective storytelling devices. They take us on an intriguing journey through France, to the shores of Morocco and back home again. This age old “good-versus-evil” adventure story is supported wholeheartedly by the brilliant meta-theatrics we have come to know and love from Complicite’s versatile company members.
Based on Zizou Corder’s children’s novels and adapted for the stage by Marcelo Dos Santos, Lionboy is the story of Charlie Ashanti, a young boy with asthma, played with gentle curiosity by Martins Imhangbe. Charlie comes home one day to find that his parents, sagely enacted by the lovely Victoria Gould and the distinguished Femi Elufowoju, Jr., have been abducted. Charlie’s parents were wise folk, imparting to him with words of wisdom that encourage him to question authority with the phrase “Nullius in Verba” (take nobody’s word for it).
Fortunately for Charlie, he had a run in with a lion cub as a child, which enabled him to speak “cat”, and this handy genetic modification also helps him in his journey. Charlie’s asthma is caused, in part, by the evil Corporacy’s manipulation of cat genetics. These genetically modified cats are called “Allergenies” and Sergei, played with feline and energizing comedy by Eric Mallet, is an “Allergenie” with a heart of gold. Sergei proves to be helpful to Charlie, though he causes Charlie to need his inhaler at times, in Zizou Corder’s complex, futuristic world.
On the journey to save his parents Charlie is chased by his childhood nemesis, the brilliant and energetic Angel Lopez-Silva. As they travel through France, they meet floating circus performers on the ship Circe; here is revealed a lovely core tenet of Complicite’s work by the generously talented Lisa Kerr. Ms. Kerr eventually becomes a gecko, saving Charlie from the worst fate imaginable, being friendless in a time of need. But before she does, she plays Pirouette, doubling roles (as all but a few company members do) during the tale of Charlie’s harrowing adventure. Ms. Kerr is an accomplished aerialist, thrilling us with her performance, dangling precipitously from unimaginable angles, performing gamely, center stage, without a net. The Ringmaster of ceremonies at the Royal Circus is Major Tib, engagingly played by Dan Milne with energy, great heart and excellent comic timing.
Of course, no adventure is complete without joining the circus and this circus is filled with lions! Nor is an adventure complete without a bad guy. In this case that would be Chief Executive of the evil Corporacy, played with frightening solemnity by Clive Mendus.
Invigorating direction by Clive Mendus and James Yeatman and the versatility of Complicite's players help to keep you from getting lost in some of the plot twists and possible confusing yet subtle language usage such as the difference between the cities of “Vence” and “Venice” for example. And fortunately, if you should become baffled, the lively second act clears up any confusion and the show ends on a high note.
Are there lions onstage? Yes! Are there floating circuses onstage? Yes! As well as a hot-air balloon, a gecko, an exciting escape involving hundreds of live animals roaring and screeching and mewing and clawing their way out of the evil Corporacy’s dungeons. Why? Don't be silly. When you see real live theater and use your imagination, anything is possible. Nullius in Verba! (Don’t take my word for it!) See for yourself; just ask a cat, they’ll tell you what’s true.
