REVIEW: LETTER'S END

Rip It Up arts editor Robert Dunstan recently ventured along to see Letter’s End at Adelaide Festival Centre and discovered that the show, which is full of magic, illusion and much humour, was an absolute delight. It’s suitable for those ages six and over and while kids will love it, adults will also find its charms highly likeable.

LETTER’S END / DUNSTAN PLAYHOUSE / WED JUL 28

Many were charmed when Wolfe Bowart came to town some four years ago to present LaLaLuna in the Garden Of Unearthly Delights as part of Adelaide Fringe Festival. That show, which has since garnered several awards, continues to tour the world – the US-born Wolfe will present it in Austria next month – but at present he’s back in Adelaide with Letter’s End, an equally enjoyable outing that he’s also been touring for the last couple of years and one that is suitable for those aged six and over.

Letter’s End, which will have its 100th showing this weekend, begins with Wolfe shovelling parcels into a furnace as he’s working at a dead-end job in a dead letter office. Meanwhile an annoying fly buzzes around which is a catalyst for much silliness. When, out of curiosity, he then opens a package instead of burning it, he discovers inside a teddy bear and it helps brings back childhood memories. He puts the teddy on a shelf and suddenly a mop becomes a shaggy dog. The highly inventive work give the performer a chance to show a variety of skills which includes sleight of hand in some of the magic bits, hand puppetry, juggling, movement and physical theatre – he stands on his head at one stage – and there is also some very clever use of film which allows Wolfe to interact with those shown on screen. The show also has a very European aesthetic and it seems Wolfe is showing tribute to people such as Tati and Genty as the show often has that dream-like, surreal quality of the latter and the naïve, gentle charm of the former.

There is also some audience participation as a young man is willing dragged on stage to take part in the show for a few minutes. In fact, at one stage Wolfe sits down with the audience and gestures for the young man to carry on by himself.

The use of many, many sound effects – I’m told there are about 100 in total - adds greatly to the show and the chosen music fits in very well with the stage antics. Modern technology also serves the show well with the use of remote controlled devices making parcels move about unexpectedly.

Letter’s End concludes on what could be viewed by older audience members as quite a reflective note as we realise he is looking back at his memories. But Wolfe is soon leaping and bounding around the stage to much laughter while the audience stands and applauds.

The opening night performance was full of youngsters and they all seemed to greatly enjoy it. If you’ve got kids, take them along. If not, borrow some and you’ll likely be remembered by them for life.

Letter’s End continues at Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre at 6.30pm on Thu Jul 29 until Sat Jul 30 with a 1pm matinee on Sat Jul 30. Book quickly at BASS as tickets prices are very reasonable and tickets for those under .

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