“The domino effect;
You understand it as leading to catastrophe
But learn its secrets
And it can also lead to triumph.”
An urban fox trots down a quiet Tower Hamlets street at dawn and sets off a chain of events, an effect like a toppling row of dominoes, racing faster, getting larger until it sweeps up members of the local community in a series of domestic disasters.
Amina has been watching and deciding on which parents to make her own. She will come into this seemingly pointless world reluctantly, born looking inwards to a better universe of her own imagination. Her father is a watchmaker, as precise as her mother is gregarious.
Amina never speaks, her power of silence fueling her inventiveness so that her father becomes not just a seller of clocks but of time itself, and the locals are a time traveller, a spy and the victim of a carnivorous piano.
A discovered set of dominoes and a mysterious antique dealer help Amina to hatch a series of other happenings that will draw on her hopes, prayers and love to put things right. The only person she hasn’t helped is herself - or perhaps that’s just something that only time will tell?
This piece has been created by Fin Kennedy, Mulberry School’s writer in residence and is perfectly suited to the cast, who clearly relish weaving a colourful, surreal fantasy, ably using the flexible set and every tool available to them from puppetry, projection to physical theatre.
The nature of the play makes it a little mechanical and the rapid handing of lines one to the other, while moving the action along with pace, rarely allows the characters to develop. Having a silent lead also has some disadvantages.
It’s a convincing performance that demonstrates that Mulberry Theatre are capable of taking seemingly whimsical tales to magical and meaningful levels.
Show Times: 4 -14 August 2014 (not 10) at 2.10pm.
Ticket Prices: £8 (£5).
Suitability: PG.