It is years since I spent a Saturday afternoon in a library, in fact I was probably still at primary school having just enjoyed a swim in York Road Baths before nipping next door to take out a couple of books to see me through until the following week. Ah, the memories.
Today I was at Leeds Central Library to watch a Christmas Show especially for the very young. Although having some elements of the genre, it wasn’t a pantomime, more a seasonal play, and one which was heartwarming to say the least.
As you will have gathered from the title, it concerns two elves and a Storyteller. The former were Chief Elf, Dorrit, and Elf Pip, the Storyteller being Mr Dazzle, who used to run a dazzling show, with acts such as clowns, musclemen, singers etc but, sadly they all grew old and retired, leaving Mr Dazzle alone in his small house with just his memories.
Luke Dickson as Mr Dazzler. Could his first name be Bobby?
The tale is told in flashback, with the first scene comprising Mr Dazzle relating as to how he met the two elves and became lifelong friends with them. It coincided with Elf Pip’s first day on the job and she had just introduced herself to Chief Elf Dorrit, when the elf phone rang. It was Santa on the other end of the line asking for their help to save Christmas, as the mood in the village where Mr Dazzle was now living, was very sad when it should have been joyful at the prospect of the festive season.
Having chosen to accept their mission, they set off to seek out Mr Dazzle, who was as sad and downhearted as the rest of the population and, despite the elves best efforts, he could not be snapped out of it. That’s the national elf service for you. Elf Pip then came up with the plan to recreate Mr Dazzle’s show in the village. They obviously couldn’t go full Blues Brothers and get the band back together as they were all too old, so they decided to enlist the services of other elves, and, wouldn’t you just know it, the audience was full of them.
Charlie Limm as Chief Elf Dorrit and Elf Pip, Timothea Ibitoye, trying to impress the boss on her first day by strumming out a tune.
After a crash course in singing, something I heartily joined in with, comedy, in the guise of pulling funny faces, again no problem as I am blessed with one already, and dancing, by extending our arms like a ballerina, at which point I felt the urgent need to make an entry in my notebook, we were ready to go.
The show proved such a success that all the villagers, including Mr Dazzle, were cheered up no end, and Christmas was saved. He was so inspired that he decided to become a Storyteller, and lived happily ever after.
Please don’t tell your elves about the finish, in case you are thinking about bringing them along, which you really should, as I wouldn’t like you to pass on any spoilers. I think you should also keep under your hat that I believe that Mr Dazzle is a pseudonym for a chap called Luke Dickson. I don’t think they were real elves either, as Chief Elf Dorrit looked suspiciously like Charlie Limm and Elf Pip, Timothea Ibitoye. There was also something just not quite right in their portrayal. I have come across loads of these critters in my time, so can spot a fake, but, although I thought they were brilliant, it occurred to me that they might just be Elve-ish Impersonators. They have now left the building, but fear not, as they will be returning on several more dates between now and New Year’s Eve, so you have lots of chances to see them perform their magic. Go to https://fidgettheatre.com/projects/the-elves-and-the-storyteller/the-elves-and-the-storyteller-tickets/ for details and to book. Admission is on a pay what you can basis with a suggested £8 minimum.
The show was wonderfully presented and acted, with the kids – all of us – totally engrossed throughout, especially during the audience participation at the end. OK, there was the odd restless child, but I soon calmed down, and, had I not, there was a break-out area where I could have sat quietly until I had recovered. It proved to me yet again, that, despite the many diversions of modern society, there is no substitute for the wonder imparted by live entertainment.
The Elves and the Storyteller is a Fidget Theatre Production Written and Directed by Ruth Cooper-Rowan and Andrea Heaton, Designed by Emma Williams, Musical Direction by Claire O’Connor, Sound Design and Projection, Ed Heaton and Technical Stage Manager, Charlotte Woods.
To find out more about Fidget Theatre Company, please go to https://fidgettheatre.com/
Photographs by David Lindsay
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