Review: PAPER STARS, Barnfield Theatre
Photo credit: Craig Fuller
Paper Stars is a new musical written by Miranda Middleton and Grace Chapple, alongside Luke Byrne as composer and lyricist. The production viewed last night was delivered by 35 young performers from the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT).
The British Youth Music Theatre is a charity that prides itself on inclusivity and equipping, supporting and providing the resources and opportunities for young people to maximise and fulfil their creative aspirations. They work with companies spanning the 11-21 age range, also offering summer camps, short courses and are detailed on their Social accounts as the largest commissioner of new musicals in the UK. As part of delivering new musicals and showcasing early career writers works, members are given the opportunity to originate roles and to develop characters and stories through rehearsal and performance. The young performers who delivered Paper Stars yesterday evening first came together two weeks ago. The level of performance given, particularly within this short time span, is hugely commendable and they all should be incredibly proud.
The inspiration for Paper Stars derived from the early life of Helen Lyndon Goff, more famously known as P.L. Travers, creator of Mary Poppins. The plot here follows Goff from her early life in Queensland, Australia and later to New South Wales, exploring aspects of her personal life, influences, supports and difficulties, leading into the evolution of her career as a writer and the development of Mary Poppins. It follows her as she moves to London in the 1920’s, viewed as ‘a woman from the colonies’ who struggles to find her feet. She is portrayed as a strong woman who sticks to her intentions, standing by her guns and refusing to further feminise Mary Poppins to pander to editors, but does reinvent herself to some degree to achieve her ambitions and adopt her famous pen name. Research has clearly been done here to represent Goff/Travers’ history when it comes to Poppins, the plot references the suggested first written appearance, a short story published in a newspaper and visually depicts the growth of the character and Travers' connection with her from there. The conclusion of the plot sees Travers arriving at a conclusion that is suggested wasn’t the ending that she originally envisaged but eventually heeding advice and reaching the realisation that Mary Poppins needed to leave at the end of the story but that also she needed to let her fly. This provided some poignant quotes and sentimental notions linking to her personal life: “a hero has to leave home or there would be no story”, alongside “if they never leave we never get to see how special they are”.
The piece was 1 hour 25 minutes long with no interval, but direction by Miranda Middleton, choreography by Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, and the delivery of the material by the cast kept a smooth flow and held attention throughout. Some great effects were used through Sibanda’s choreography alongside George P Martin’s set and costume design, and the space at the Barnfield Theatre was used well. The stage, set to a white backdrop, gently lit with a standalone swing back wooden stepladder centre stage. A reasonably sized space that did not look empty during scenes with minimal props but also facilitated the whole company with props during ensemble tracks. Each prop relevant and used to its potential with creative stage representations and references to Covent Garden, Fleet Street, St Paul’s and The Savoy. Visual imagery of a clock tower was created using a spoon alongside shadow theatre and freeze frame techniques to enhance the visual storytelling of the idea of Mary Poppins as it she emerged in Travers' mind. Papers birds, boats, tulips and stars were used thematically, some loose and others controlled on rods purposefully. Costume design was suitable to the era but didn’t feel outdated to its audience, it also served to distinguish between both the location of scenes and supported the ageing of the character of Goff/Travers. Multiple cast members were used for this. Also, all of them transitioning believably into the next version of her but clearly representing the same person. The band, also consisting of some very talented young people, were placed two a piece either side of the front of the stage.
The structure of scenes balanced between more intimate ones with minimal performers on stage and large ensemble numbers worked well and transitioned smoothly, and the original musical score - under the direction of Bianca Fung - felt strong and memorable throughout. The ensemble numbers were slick and punchy, executed with the utmost enthusiasm and on point harmonies. There were a few minor sound issues throughout the first 15 minutes in which there was some audible crackling and popping but this was resolved as the performance progressed. This performance was also at a time of audience mobile phones delivering government emergency notifications which I mention only to validate the professionalism of the performers and their ability to hold their audience as these went almost unnoticed.
The cast, also given the age of the company and the time in which this has been produced, it has to be said did an exemplary job, however it feels only fair to mention specifically how well the Lyndon’s - come Pamela (P.L. Travers) delivered their roles, with very little time off stage and a lot of material to learn. Bill, played by James Oswald, was also easy to warm to but a cast member deserving of a particular personal mention has to be that of the young lady Olivia Kayes who played Madge; her characterisation and vocal ability leaves for a bright future in the industry, her solo song titled ‘Making Tea’ was delightfully British humoured, delivered faultlessly and suitably comedic in the right moments and she held the audience securely.
Paper Stars is an inspired works with a lot of potential. To end on a quote from the musical itself, “a good story is an escape, a great story gives you something to take home”, which can also be said of a good piece of theatre!
Playing only four performances, with its final one being 16 August in Exeter. However, the British Youth Music Theatre have upcoming performances of other new material featuring at the Birmingham Hippodrome and Greenwich Theatre. We can only but encourage supporting new theatre and creative opportunities.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Claire Baker
Paper Stars plays at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter until 16 August, with further info here.