Reviews

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil reviewed at the Bristol Old Vic

Posted on: 2015-01-08

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is an energetically quirky, inventive and offbeat piece of theatre - a vibrant slice of theatre, masterfully adapted and superbly performed by a young, talented cast.

---

 

The joyously inventive title alone should give you some clue that this is not going to be your average night at the theatre, and Bristol Old Vic Young Company's adaption of Stephen Collins' acclaimed graphic novel is one of the most audaciously original and inspired productions you'll see all year. 

This modern day fairy tale tells the story of Dave (an eccentrically endearing Oscar Adams). He lives on the island of Here, a place where everything is immaculate and obsessively clean and tidy. He goes about his beige, mundane duties for an equally beige, mundane data company that none of the employees either fully understand or dare to question. Facial hair is non-existent, so when Dave sprouts a colossal beard, it send the citizens of Here into a hysterical, apoplectic panic, throwing their regimented, ordered lives into chaos. With the beard unfurling at a dizzying, uncontrollable speed, perhaps the only solution is to make sure Dave and his beard are banished forever. 

This is a fun, vibrant slice of theatre, masterfully adapted and superbly performed by a young, talented cast. As with all great tales, it can be interpreted from different perspectives. On the one hand, it's a satirical, edgily barbed deconstruction of the inanities and insanities of society, its distrust at anything different, the simmering undercurrent of snide resentment at anything that threatens the norm. On the other hand, it's a hugely enjoyable modern fable hinging on an absurdly inventive narrative and a slew of cleverly conceived set pieces.

Matters get increasingly out of control as the bushy beard bursts forth in size, its uncontrollable tsunami of facial fuzz engulfing anything and everything in its path. Scenes portraying media manipulation, political involvement and angry, placard-waving demonstrations are cleverly interpolated to reflect the current social climate and how situations can easily be perceived or misinterpreted, and a Question Time-style riff featuring a pro-beard scientist and a pompous, bespectacled Anti-Beard League campaigner is a real hoot. 

Director Stephanie Kempson provides confident, assured direction from a graphic novel that must have been tricky to adapt for the stage. Hannah Wolfe's design is equally solid and inspired, often incorporating neat visual flourishes and ingenious use of light, shadow and silhouettes, and the hinted-at land of There is left tantalizingly peripheral and ambiguous. The music sung by on-stage singers provides an alternately amusing and evocatively ambient soundscape. 

Bristol Old Vic Young Company stridently belies its name - there are plenty of professional companies of older actors who don't even come close to this standard of acting or professionalism. The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is an energetically quirky, inventive and offbeat piece of theatre; an idiosyncratic, fantastical tale with a finale that's also affectingly poignant.

5/5

Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol.com

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil runs until Saturday 10 January 2015 and is SOLD OUT for the whole run. Please check the Bristol Old Vic website or call the Box Office for returns 0117 987 7877.

 

 

---