Writer: Mary Norton
Adapter: Charles Way
Director: Mark Babych
For those unfamiliar with this wide-eyed classic fantasy, The Borrowers is a lovely little children’s novel by Mary Norton. The story surrounds a family of small people who live in the floorboards and walls of a quintessentially suburban British house. They literally beg, steal and borrow anything and everything from the big people who live there in order to survive. Naturally mischief and calamity ensue so one expected a show that was quick-witted, fast-paced and riddled with nostalgia. The perfect ingredients to delight the family this Christmas wouldn’t you think?
One had high hopes for The Borrowers at Hull Truck Theatre having been disappointed with their choices in the past, but, as expected, it really missed the mark once again. Set against a backdrop of World War 2 Britain (again) this safe adaptation is too literal and one we’ve seen all too often from this theatre before. While Patrick Connellan’s impressive set design is imaginative, the scenes by the clock where actors stood on the roof making the whole set wobble feel a little amateur. There is some clever staging moments but the overall production feels lacking in energy and charm. The pace of dialogue and action is slow, let down by a weak script and forgettable songs. Toying with semi-actor-musicians (a Truck staple it seems) is fruitless and not as inviting or exciting enough to warrant any real merit.
There are pockets of charm but, on the whole, the production feels uneven, with some scenes really dragging and, with the pace feeling sluggish, it, at times, makes for a difficult watch.
The actors do their best, but the characters feel underdeveloped, and it is hard to connect emotionally with the story especially given that Christmas is just around the corner. One hoped for something spritely and spirited instead it was subpar and shallow.
One expected more from the script – it seemed to miss the wit and magic that makes The Borrowers such an enduring tale. The younger audience members around your reviewer seemed restless, with some playing rock, paper, scissors in their seats to keep themselves entertained. This suggests it didn’t quite capture their attention as perhaps it should.
Runs until 4th January 2024.
4 Comments
What a load of rubbish! We came on press night with a group of children of all ages who absolutely adored it! The younger ones can’t stop acting out arriety and spiller. We want to watch it again! 5 stars!
Thank you for this Joanna. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Theatre is subjective and I also didn’t enjoy it – I’ve stopped taking my class to shows at Hull Truck because they are just so dull !
I feel a bit like Mary Whitehouse criticising a tv show she hasn’t seen, because I haven’t seen Mark Babych’s production, but I do know a lot about this script and the background to the story, having directed it and toured it nationally twice and for Christmas at Leeds Playhouse. I worked with the actress Barbara Flynn on a radio drama I was producing and told her I was about to direct The Borrowers. She told me she used to play with Mary Norton’s daughter and had once asked Norton about the book she had written about little people who live under the floorboards. Norton replied’ It’s not about little people who live under the floorboards, it’s about Czechoslovakia’. The book was published in 1952 and was written while Russia was invading Czechoslovakia and is about life under communism the way Animal Farm is about the rise of fascism. Charlie Way’s script does great justice to this idea, and in Act 2 when they escape into the field, shows the dangers of life when you have freedom, too. Act 1 is full of jeopardy, and that needs to be played to the hilt. Some productions play it for laughs, which is a mistake. Act 2 is the most beautiful coming of age story about Arrietty and Spiller, and the moment she walks away with him and Pod and Homily watch her go always made me cry.
I have to say I disagree very much with this review – I saw the show with friends and we all enjoyed it immensely! The actor playing Mrs Driver was brilliant, made us laugh out loud while still bringing a sense of menace. Pod and Arrietty were excellent, the set looked ace, was lit beautifully, and the perspective shift using puppetry was ingenious. I’d certainly recommend it (and have done so!) as a festive outing to friends and family.