STORM BOY (2015)
STORM BOY, Sydney Theatre Company and Barking Gekko at Wharf 1 and touring. Photography by Brett Boardman - above: Otis Pavlovic and Anthony Mayor; (right) Jimi Bani and Otis Pavlovic.
BY FELICITY DAYHEW (age 11 and who saw the original production) and her brother JAMES (9) who did not.
Starting out with a bang and flashing lights, you get the impression there is a storm. After it’s over a small door to a hut, or “humpy” as Fingerbone Bill of course calls it, comes into view. A small beaten up boat is near that, as well two old chairs and an upside down barrel as a table.
Suddenly the door flies open and a boy with what looks like his father comes out. The boy wants to go over to the beach to see if there are any interesting things from the storm. His father doesn’t want him to go but finally gives in and lets him go. When he goes he meets a man named Fingerbone Bill. After that he finds some baby pelicans with no mother and takes them home.
The boy, who is named “Storm Boy” by Fingerbone, is a very caring and lonely boy, living only with his father and eventually becomes best friends with Fingerbone Bill. Storm Boy is played by Rory Potter, Kai Lewis and Otis Pavlovic, sharing. His father is a very straightforward person, wanting just to fish for food and make sure that his son is safe, but is brought along with all the trouble Storm Boy gets into and is played by Julian Garner. (He is also very bad at jokes)
Fingerbone Bill is a light hearted and funny Aboriginal man. He tries to crack jokes whenever he can and always lightens the mood. He is played by Jimi Bani. Mister Percival is a very cheeky pelican, and alongside his two mischievous brothers, Mister Proud and Mister Ponder, they can create madness in the small household and they are played by Anthony Mayor and Phil Dean Walford.
I also noted that Fingerbone Bill has been played by a different man than last time and was a bit less serious. I personally preferred this actor, Jimi Bani.
Overall I thought it was a magnificent play and I would recommend it to every age but there are loud noises and flashing lights so make sure the younger audience members are okay with that. Storm Boy will amaze you and the pelicans will steal your heart.
BY JAMES DAYHEW
The story is about a Boy, his father and his friend Fingerbone Bill. After a storm the boy comes across a birds nest with three little pelican babies in it. The Boy begs his dad to adopt them and look after them until they are big enough to live on their own. If you don’t already know the story, you’ll need to see the play to find out what happens when they release them in the wild.
The main relationships in Storm Boy are between the Boy and his Dad; the boy and Fingerbone; and the Boy and his pelicans. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Storm Boy and would recommend it highly if it comes to somewhere near you. Keep in mind there are loud noises and lightning type light effects which can be scary if you’re not prepared for it.
