Byteback Theatre: The Curious Sole of Luna Cobbler

Underground themes, fairy tales and freak characters are part of the universe often explored by Tim Burton, either as a film director, writer or illustrator. The Curious Sole of Luna Cobbler is inspired by Burton’s poetry, but also brings us a visual aesthetic that references his work as a visual artist – hence, black and white, or red and white, stripes; pale faces with dark circles under the eyes; wild, unkempt hair; and unusual and extravagantly coloured shoes.

The references also extend to the soundscape – well written and energetically performed musical tracks that often feature the sound of piano or organ, setting the pace for the sung speech of the show’s characters.

Byteback Theatre is a young company, and the show is performed by a large ensemble, who alternate between group choreography and verbal/sung storytelling, the music giving a rhythm to the plot. Burton’s poems feature references to characters from fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, and the show features a Goblin, loosely based on Rumpelstiltskin, who stores lost souls/soles in his residence.

Cobbler is a lonely being who lives in the underworld, surfacing to negotiate with the lonely souls who want something more in their lives (or post-lives). But what these disillusioned young people do not know is that they could end up trapped in the house of their host for eternity – innocently delivering the sole of their shoes to the Goblin, but then forced to work for him mending their souls, which can last forever.

Luna, representing the Moon Goddess of the night, takes on the role of saviour. She does not believe that to trap them is a fair situation, and so the  theatrical conflict is in place…

The Curious Sole of Luna Cobbler does justice to the universe that inspired it, and is based on sound ideas. However, the young actors reveal a lack of experience in their performance, so there is still a way go in the development of both show and company, especially regarding the embodiment of the characters and both physical and voice delivery by the actors, digging deeper into each of the souls who inhabit this underground land.

An enjoyable show, blending physical, visual and musical elements – but work to be done.

 

 

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Marilia Ennes

About Marilia Ennes

Marília Ennes is founder/co-director of ParaladosanjoS (Brazil) and a PhD researcher at Unicamp (University of Campinas, São Paulo). Her work embraces visual and physical theatre, and much of her creation flirts with hybrid fields of art. Currently, she is involved with walking as an aesthetic practice. She has recently been appointed as Professor at the Department of Corporeal Art at UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro). www.paraladosanjos.com @paraladosanjos