Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Studio Accelerando—The Rachel Browne Theatre

Creative, family-friendly, and FUN: this is a Journey that everyone should go on! An idea to adapt the Jules Verne classic into a physical theatre piece was well-developed and flawlessly executed. What more could you want at Winnipeg Fringe?

Well, if you’re a budding actor still hung up on his line count, you might also witness a valuable demonstration of “it’s not what you say; it’s what you do”.

There is a rich soundscape, despite being presented in mime. In addition to musical selections and voice-overs by the Director (Colin Bruce Anthes), the performer (Robert Feetham) continually provides his own sound effects, in what might be described as the Foley equivalent of beat-boxing.

A programme quotation that “the human being is richer than the greatest stage effects that exist” tells us in advance where this company is coming from. With no scenery to speak of, Mr. Feetham’s unwavering commitment to creating each and every moment of the story pulls us deep beneath the Earth’s crust, where we share in The Professor’s fears and exhilarations at the fantastical creatures encountered there.

John Chase