The Clockwork Forest; theatre review

FAMILY FUN: Paul Blackwell as Cuthbert and Cameron Goodall as Morton in scene from The Clockwork Forest.
Image: Windmill Performing Arts


Forest of Fun by Linh

Windmill Performing Arts and Brink Productions have joined creative forces to bring Doug MacLeod's family friendly production The Clockwork Forest to the Dunstan Playhouse.

The story tells of young Morton whose only friends, his wind up animal toys Dog, Cat, Hen and Goat, are blown away during a fierce storm which destroys his house. Morton sets on a journey through the forest to find his friends and discovers more to life than clockwork toy animals. The Clockwork Forest is a play dealing with issues of friendship, love, loss, trust and revenge, and is thoroughly entertaining.

Adelaide actor Cameron Goodall plays the plucky and determined Morton with convincing delivery of lines and childlike agility as he moves through the well-designed props representing a labyrinth of trees in search of his clockwork toys alongside Cuthbert. Cameron Goodall is engaging and likeable playing a child, and at times shows intellectual maturity in contrast to Cuthbert's naivete.

With a career as diverse as the characters he has played, Paul Blackwell is brilliantly hilarious as the amnesiac Cuthbert, who is wandering the forest searching for his own identity and befriending Morton. Paul Blackwell enthralls with his deft hand at comedy, as Cuthbert provides most of the laughs accentuating the humour in the script.

Drama teacher, singer and actor Jacqueline Cook gives a fine performance as Morton's not-so-secret admirer, whose house is also destroyed in the wild storm. Jacqueline Cook's portrayal of the feisty and cunning young Hannah, is a delight to watch, as she provides an interesting distraction for Morton when his eyes stray from his beloved animal toys towards her direction.

The allrounder and multi-talented Kate Box takes on two contrasting yet equally beguiling main characters, as well as a few other minor roles amongst the fantastic ensemble. As the slightly scary but very sexy Spider, Mara, Kate Box wraps the characters and the audience up in her charms while she spins out vengeful words against families. Mara's pet hate is family or anything family related, since her own sisters banished her into the dark and lonely forest due to her misdeeds.
Kate Box gives plenty of quirkiness and neurotic fussiness in her role as Felicia, the artist, whose artistic goal in life is to make everything ugly look beautiful.

Adding some mystery and spookiness to the play, Rory Walker is creepy yet mesmeric as Loki, the intriguing storyteller who travels in a boat along the forest fringes, taking people across the river.

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Stuart Day performs live onstage with his multitude of 'sound tools' including drumsticks, hurdy gurdy and megaphone. Stuart Day brings about the wonders and foreboding sense of danger to the forest as he creates the soundtrack to The Clockwork Forest right before our eyes and ears.

Melbourne writer Doug Macleod is known for his work displaying sharp wit and quirky humour with credits including the television comedy programme Kath And Kim. All which are evident in the beautifully crafted and tightly trimmed script for The Clockwork Forest that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Director Chris Drummond has seamlessly woven sounds, actions, lighting and great performers together for a satisfying journey through a fictional forest.