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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewThe Fahrenheit Twins
by Tim Newns
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We won't grow up, we'll stop time.— The Twins: Tainto'lilith and Marko'cain
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Hayley Carmichael and Paul Hunter (Photo: Keith Pattison) |
Hayley Carmichael and Paul Hunter, founding members of Told by an Idiot, play the twins Tainto'lilith and Marko'cain, who are born to scientist explorers on a mission in the Arctic. With no other human contact, they spend their days playing in the snow and creating a book of knowledge compiled of their experiences on this desolate land. All seems well until one day their caring mother falls ill and, with a father too preoccupied to care for them, they are forced to grow up fast as time seems to suddenly accelerate at an alarming rate.
Carmichael and Hunter also play the parents, the dogs and the foxes that inhabit this "exploration station" often switching between characters with just the slightest wardrobe alteration. They are both highly skilled in their transformations with Carmichael showing particular adroitness from switching between a young and playful Tainto'lilith to her sick and dying mother.
The most impressive aspect of the production is Naomi Wilkinson's revolving stage covered with a white fluffy material to represent the snowy landscape. Surrounded by darkness and smoke, the set contributes to the harsh isolation and coldness of the piece. A snow covered slope crowns the "disc world" stage that is intelligently used throughout as both the family home and also the many snowy dunes that cover this barren land. The "fluffiness" of the set and costumes combined with Gareth Fry's high-spirited sound design leads the audience into a world of fun and youthfulness, ultimately placing us in a false sense of security as the twins' desperate situation becomes more apparent. Philip Gladwell's lighting design also helps create the polar ambience with an array of icy and stark colours.
Disappointingly, after the initial visual appeal of the first ten minutes the production progresses at a rather slow pace. With the exception of a ritual sacrifice of a fox the story struggles to entice much interest or sympathy until the mother falls ill, a long way into the performance. From this moment on, however, the production comes to life, culminating in various heart-warming situations juxtaposing our emotions constantly.
Faber's tale reminds you of being immortally young and explores the idea of stopping time itself to keep off the inevitable step to adulthood. An interesting and intriguing theme in this snow covered fairy tale at the Barbican Pit that I do recommend for its visual impact, but just be a little patient for its moments of dramatic flair.
| The Fahrenheit Twins
Written by Michel Faber Adapted by Told by an Idiot and Matthew Dunster Directed by Matthew Dunster Starring: Hayley Carmichael and Paul Hunter Design: Naomi Wilkinson Lighting: Philip Gladwell Sound: Gareth Fry Running time: One hour 30 minutes with no interval Box Office: 020 7638 8891 Booking to 5th December 2009 Produced by Sebastian Warrack Co-produced with Drum Theatre Plymouth Reviewed by Tim Newns based on 19th November 2009 performance at Barbican Pit, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS |
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| The Fahrenheit Twins
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