THE UK CORNER (Theater Review): The Pied Piper

     *It is a long time since I read the legend of The Pied Piper, but this physical theatre reenactment of Robert Browning's poem, told me all I needed to remember.

     The Olivier Award winning production (first produced by the Theatre Royal Stratford East) sees hoodies personifying Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, and taking on the role of the vermin infesting East London with anarchy.

     As The Pied Piper, Kenrick 'H20' Sandy, co founder of Boy Blue entertainment, must find a way to make them dance to his tune if he is to gain his financial reward.

     When his wage is jeopardised, he wages revenge with martial arts informed choreography. His illustrious physical CV establishes that he is a capable, animalistic and well-traveled exterminator.

Frank Wright (back to camera) and Kendrick Sandy (photo credit: Robert Day)

     He deals some striking motions to his on stage peers in the rat's lair; they retaliate with matrix style maneuvers. The audience fell silent in Da Pimp segment where the female hooded rats shunned their tracksuits for liquid leggings, bras and heels. Their feminine wiles almost transformed The Pied Piper from puppeteer to puppet, until he channeled a little sexual bewitchery of his own.

     With elements of mime, and clown Governors, the powerful cast of 37, evokes comedy. It is Sandy's business partner Michael 'Mikey J' Asante, who must induce other emotions, drawing upon a dark soundtrack of grime and funk.

     Under Ultz's direction and design, all senses are attacked. With such a large cast, including some familiar faces from the hip-hop dance theatre scene, it is at times hard to choose where to look, yet whatever part of the stage your eye is drawn to, you will not fail to be engaged.

     There is so much energy, so much happening, though few words are spoken. The storyline is minimal, but the narrator, TV screens and tabloid headlines, keep the plot afloat for 90 minutes straight.

     The salient points about the pertinence of early intervention in tackling youth crime do not drown, but most striking, is the sheer physical intelligence of the dancers. Even the youngest of the cast presented charm and sass in equal measure, all shining under the glare of the spotlight.

Pied Piper
Boy Blue Entertainment
5 - 14 March 2009 / 19:45, 14:30
Barbican Theatre
Tickets: £10-26

    For more information visit: http://www.barbican.org.uk/pied_piper or http://www.boyblueent.com/

The UK Corner covers urban entertainment from a British perspective and is written by Fiona McKinson. She is a freelance journalist and creative writer based in London. Contact her at info@thetalentshow.co.uk