Twist of Gold at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
Review by Theo Peters
Image by Robert Workman
This fantastic play from a book by Michael Morpurgo is about a boy, Sean O’Brian, (Charlie Hamblett) and his sister, Annie, (Clare McMahon), who have to flee Ireland as the famine is causing the plague and many people are dying. They have to leave behind their sick mother (Jo Castleton), and they set off to America to find their father. On the way they come across lots of different experiences. First they travel across the sea to America. On the ship the captain steals the O’Brian’s golden torc, a beautiful necklace which has been in the family for generations and which Annie and Sean had promised their mother to look after. On the ship Sean is also taught how to play the fiddle by Fiddler Donnelly (Ian Harris).
This story is definitely one to see. It is written well and it has been adapted well, although it gets a little confusing at times because most of the actors play so many different parts it’s often hard to tell who every one is!
I would recommend Twist of Gold for anyone and give this production 4.5 stars .
The play continues until April 21.