Don’t expect any monsters to come calling about this mature, fantastic adaptation of the award-winning novel…
Connor is a 13-year-old boy but is suffering from a bad life. Bullies, no father figure, nightmares and his mother is unfortunately ill, leading him to push away the other people he is close to. However, at precisely 00:07 AM, he is haunted by a monster: a hundred year old Yew Tree located outside his home. The Monster says he will tell him three stories and after he has told them, he orders Connor to tell a fourth story or risk dying. As time passes Connor realises the story developing and why the monster has come calling.
One of the best aspects of this production is the set. There is no physical tree on set; instead, it is crafted using acrobatic ropes which come from the ceiling. This is taken advantage of further such as by creating shadows. They are also used for other scenes including creating seat belts and the wheel in a car. The rest of the set – designed by Michael Vale – is mostly crafted as a white box with projection used for certain scenes such as Connorās nightmares, reminiscent of the set used in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.
All of the actors perform well, with most of them also playing multiple roles in a similar vein to Peter Pan to show the parallels between the Monsterās stories and Connor’s own life. They keep a constant presence on stage adding to the theme of abandonment, the best of which being Keith Gilmore as the Monster, who commands the stage with his deep Scottish accent as he takes flight with the ropes and tells Connor that humans and the world are complex; everything isnāt black and white.
Another fun aspect of the show is the music provided by Seamus Carey and Luke Potter. Both occupy their own space on stage, and use multiple instruments from cellos, keyboards and drums to using synthesisers to modify their voices similarly to Jeff Wayneās Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.
As a caution, it’s worth knowing that this show is pretty dark and there are very few jokes to lighten the mood. Additionally, if you suffer from epilepsy, there are flashing lights at certain parts of the show.
In conclusion, A Monster Calls is a dark, mature take on the world and the difficult concept of death. With fantastic music and choreography, the story truly comes alive; be prepared for tears at the end.
By Stuart McComb
Image credit: Theatre Royal