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Press
*****
At the heart of the play though, is a deeply poignant
narrative, taken from Jean Giono's story of the same
name. It really is what so many other narratives claim
to be: touching, heart-warming and inspirational.
Add to this already heady mix a beautifully constructed
set and puppets, a few giant fans for wafting evocative
scented oils around the audience... and it adds up to
a flawless show for kids and adults alike. This really
couldn't come more highly recommended.
Rachel Jeffcoat at DIGYORKSHIRE.COM
This
really is a show that appeals to all ages and is still
a major highlight of the Fringe that can certainly withstand
repeated viewings and still seem as fresh, funny and
moving as ever. David
Chadderton, The British Theatre Guide
A
touching tale, full of the joys of spring and the wonder
of nature. [bm]
A
simple set and a simple structure enable a simple story
to be told, with captivating results.
Helena
S. Rampley, Science is a Lie - the real theatre blog
Puppeteers
Richard Medrington and Rick Conte of the Edinburgh State
Puppet Theatre Company, with the help of Dog, an endearing,
loud-mouthed button-eyed dog with a bit of a hearing
problem showed what an award-winning team could do to
breathe life into a simple story of tree planting. Lim
Ang Nei, Sunday People - Sunday Times Magazine, Malaysia
Two
men, one of them doubling up as a wise-cracking dog,
a simple set design, a story with a life-affirming message
- and one of the most entrancing 60 minutes you will
find in any theatre... It's not just some "right-on"
alternative to seasonal pantomime, but a little gem
of a theatrical experience. David
Upton, Wigan Evening Post
Laughs,
heartbreak, war, regeneration, scented breezes, sparkling
wit, the best dog puppet ever. Perfect for children
and grown-ups. Terrific. Guardian
It
is very, very rare to find something that appeals as
effortlessly to children and adults as this magical
show. ***** Scotsman
I
doubt whether there is a more enjoyable show on in London
at the moment - for adults as well as children.
Rogues and Vagabonds
Expertly
put together and extremely entertaining … This
is just a wonderful, enchanting piece of theatre for
children or for adults. British
Theatre Guide
Medrington's voice is lilting and perfectly modulated,
creating tension and pathos. Tempered by Conte's jaunty
puppet work with the dog, this is a multi-sensual and
visually witty hour of children's theatre. The
Stage
For all the laughs to be had along the way, the ending
is genuinely touching. In the performance I saw I noticed
the middle-aged man in the seat next to me take out
a hankie and wipe a tear from his eye. Scotsman
FULL
REVIEWS
from
DIGYORKSHIRE.COM
Rachel Jeffcoat
Thursday 1 October 2009
*****
Puppet
State Theatre Company's The Man Who Planted Trees
has received such glowing reviews in its lengthy tour
that, given the chance as part of York Theatre Royal's
Takeover09 festival, I just had to go and see it. Surely
a puppet show, however good, with however many jokes
aimed at the adults, could never really be appreciated
as much as all that by an audience of theatre critics
who could, you know, follow Chekhov and Brecht and stuff?
I stand truly, humbly and utterly corrected. The Man
Who Planted Trees is a neatly packaged hour of amongst
the finest theatre you'll see. It's charming but never
cloyingly so, gently didactic but never preachy, self-referencing
in an endearing, never pretentious way.
It also feels deeply personal, and not just because
of the intimate setting; it's the two actors' seamless
ability to respond to their audience, an ability which
is tested to its limits at this particular showing as,
for example, restless toddlers accidentally storm the
stage and an audience member turns out to be allergic
to an aromatherapy oil wafted around the room.
With an audience so determined to tear down the 'fourth
wall', it's lucky that this show never tries to pretend
there's one there in the first place...
The humour is pitched perfectly throughout. There's
no attempts to appease the adults with knowing innuendo
or the kids with overstated slapstick - it's just sharp,
universal humour, and genuinely side-splitting stuff
at times.
At the heart of the play though, is a deeply poignant
narrative, taken from Jean Giono's story of the same
name. It really is what so many other narratives claim
to be: touching, heart-warming and inspirational.
Add to this already heady mix a beautifully constructed
set and puppets, a few giant fans for wafting evocative
scented oils around the audience... and it adds up to
a flawless show for kids and adults alike. This really
couldn't come more highly recommended.
Fringe
Review 2009 - The
British Theatre Guide on The Man Who Planted Trees
*****
This
show has become a regular feature in the Fringe programme
of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, selling out and
winning awards for the last two years.
The
show is based on Jean Giono's story about a poor shepherd
in France who dedicated his life to planting thousands
of trees in a fairly desolate area, completely transforming
the landscape and the lives of the people who lived
there, without ever seeking reward or recognition. Puppet
State frames this with banter between storyteller Jean,
played by Richard Medrington, and a puppet dog simply
called Dog, operated and voiced by Rick Conte.
This
wonderfully-moving story is told beautifully by Medrington
with the aid of simple but nicely-designed props, puppets
and sets by Ailie Cohen, who also directs, and an evocative
soundscape from Barney Strachan. The audience even gets
to experience the smells of the French countryside (nice
ones) and a bit of mist and rain. The conversations
between Jean and Dog that link the story together are
superb bits of comic business that are absolutely hilarious
for children and adults, with Medrington as the straight
man to Dog's great gags.
This
really is a show that appeals to all ages and is still
a major highlight of the Fringe that can certainly withstand
repeated viewings and still seem as fresh, funny and
moving as ever. David
Chadderton, The British Theatre Guide
Three
Weeks, 29/8/09
tw
rating 5/5
A
touching tale, full of the joys of spring and the wonder
of nature. Part of the Made In Scotland series; this
magical adaptation of Giono's beautiful story featured
perfect puppetry, a life affirming message and sensuously
scented props which expertly brought sad sentiments
together with funny and witty dialogues. Charming to
watch for both children and adults, this well constructed
and skilfully acted play is both wise and delightful.
The dog is undeniably a star of the show with his giggle-inducing
quips and mischievousness, whilst remaining a canine
of good heart. I would recommend this moving moral fable
for all of humanity. Warming and wonderful theatre!
[bm]
The Man
Who Planted Trees Puppet State Theatre
The Unicorn,
London Bridge
The current stream of children's entertainment often
seems to consist of high-budget, computer-enhanced and
rapidly moving spectaculars. The fact that a well-constructed,
convincingly told moral tale is just as much, if not
more able, to hold a child's attention appears to have
been bypassed by many. This is not the case with The
Man Who Planted Trees. A simple set and a simple structure
enable a simple story to be told, with captivating results.
Richard Medrington plays Jean, the quintessentially
self-effacing but enchanting childrens' narrator. Jean
meets Elzeard Bouffier - the man who plants the trees
- along with the true star of the show: Elzeard's dog.
Operated by Rick Conte, the dog provides the show's
laughter and joie de vivre, even when he has aged to
280 in dog years and possesses huge grey eyebrows. Endlessly
entertaining, he reveals that he was once an unsuccessful
auditionee for Cats.
Despite what at first appears to be a fairly rudimentary
set of canvas tree shapes, the audience is provided
with a fully multi-sensory experience. Scents of woodland
and lavender are wafted around, as well as a mist of
rain water. Birds flying overhead and a miniature working
fountain are enchanting yet far from bewilderingly high-tech
centrepieces.
What is fantastic about this production is that every
aspect, down to the last detail, extols the humility
quietly advocated by the selfless act of Elzeard Bouffier's
ecological feat. There is no pretence and no bravado;
the final bow even goes to the dog. This makes The Man
Who Planted Trees completely successful in what it sets
out to do: to show the virtues of working for the greater
good, and to entertain an audience of very disparate
ages and tastes. Helena
S. Rampley, Science is a Lie - the real theatre blog
Make time
for this puppet story
Puppeteers
Richard Medrington and Rick Conte of the Edinburgh State
Puppet Theatre Company, with the help of Dog, an endearing,
loud-mouthed button-eyed dog with a bit of a hearing
problem showed what an award-winning team could do to
breathe life into a simple story of tree planting.
Jean
Giono’s The Man Who Planted Trees was first published
in 1953. It’s a story narrated by a youth who had
gone on a hiking holiday in 1910. Passing through areas
populated only by wild lavender, he ran out of drinking
water.
A
shepherd named Elzeard Bouffier helped him. Later he
learnt that the shepherd was planting trees in the barren
land — 100 seeds in the morning and another 100
in the evening, every day.
A
friendship developed that was to span 40 years. By the
time Bouffier died, there was a great thriving forest,
full of life and beauty.
Although
Bouffier is a fictional character, the essence of the
story is very much alive.
Nobel
Peace Prize Winner 2004, Wangari Maathai and her Green
Belt Movement planted more than 40 million trees in
Kenya and in her words: “Human beings cannot thrive
in a place where the natural environment has been degraded.”
And
in Sangamner, Maharashtra, India, 45 million trees have
been planted since 2006 by the Dandakaranya Movement.
Led by octogenarian Bhausaheb Thorat, the movement made
a pledge in July 2008 to plant a further 25 million
seeds and 450,000 saplings.
Watching
the show, it is easy to appreciate the creative talent
of the Edinburgh Puppet State Theatre Company and see
why The Man Who Planted Trees won the Eco Prize for
Creativity 2007 and the Total Theatre Award for Story
Theatre 2008.
Medrington,
slipped seamlessly in and out of his roles as the storyteller
and the hiker-narrator. Dog was delightful as himself.
Dog
was voiced and performed by Conte who also managed the
shepherd, a politician, the sheep, birds and fanned
us with gusts of fragrance.
Dog
was the one who livened things up. In fact, the dialogue
between Medrington and Dog was hilarious and had the
audience — young and old — in stitches. The
Dog bedtime routine was a gem.
The
simplicity of the set and the graceful movements of
the two performers made watching the show a joy.
Watching
the two puppeteers work their magic on stage set me
wondering as to how such theatre would breathe life
into the Malaysian national school curriculum. It is
interactive, funny and lively.
An
hour at a show like this would leave an immense positive
impression in the hearts and minds of the children.
The
entertainment factor aside, this beautifully crafted
performance draws upon our innermost desire to be courageous
and to do what is right. Education is more than swotting
over books. It will make more sense when it touches
the heart. Lim
Ang Nei, Sunday People - Sunday Times Magazine, Malaysia
Guardian
G2
15th
April 2008
This
week Michele watched The Man Who Planted Trees at the
Unicorn Theatre: "Laughs, heartbreak, war, regeneration,
scented breezes, sparkling wit, the best dog puppet
ever. Perfect for children and grown-ups. Terrific."
Michele
Hanson
Rogues
and Vagabonds
11th April 2008
This
is a genuinely lovely piece of work. It comes garlanded
with praise from the previous two Edinburgh Festivals
and rightly so. Puppet State Theatre Company have adapted
French writer Jean Giono's 1953 story of a farmer who
planted a forest, acorn by acorn, transforming arid
Provençal land into lush fertility, with deep
respect. Manifestly a parable on the ease with which
good may be done, as well as a plea to look after our
world, it is also a wildly funny puppet show. I doubt
whether there is a more enjoyable show on in London
at the moment - for adults as well as children.
Much
praise must go to Ailie Cohen, who not only directs
it but also designed the set and puppets, yet this has
the feel of a real collaboration between performers
and technicians. The story is told by Jean (Richard
Medrington) and a scruffy stick-fixated dog (Dog - with
the help of puppeteer Rick Conte). All are assured performers:
Richard Medrington has the kind of unpretentious style
that makes an audience relax instantly, while Rick Conte
is dryly witty. They wrap the story up in comedy banter,
a rapport between the performers that also embraces
the audience. More remarkable still is the rapport they
have with their puppets - they have that attentiveness
to them that marks out real puppeteers. It's as if they
are waiting to see what the puppet will do next. In
Dog they do have a genuine star, individual, wise-cracking
and instantly loved by every child in the audience.
There
is so much to admire in this production, but when something
is this good one hesitates to spoil it by giving away
specifics. Suffice to say that the combination of simple
yet lyrical images of striking poetic language - 'Pools
of water that overflowed on to carpets of fresh mint'
- of gorgeous scents wafted on the air and of just plain
laughing a lot, makes for a truly rounded theatrical
experience. An uplifting one, too. So much of our culture
is propelled by the idea that we don't have much time,
yet this is quite the opposite; it has the confidence
to take a leisurely pace, with time to spare. That is
the point of the play, of course, that everybody has
the time to make a hole in the earth and drop an acorn
in.
Do
try to get to The Man Who Planted Trees, whether you
have a child with you or not; it's only on at the brilliant
Unicorn Theatre for three weeks before it heads off
around the country, and it should book up fast. I defy
anyone not to enjoy this.
Following
the Unicorn, The Man Who Planted Trees travels to Yorkshire,
Wales, and Ireland, returning to the Edinburgh Fringe
before tour dates in Kuala Lumpur in October.
Claire
Ingrams © 2008
in
Rogues and Vagabonds 11/04/08
London
SE1
This
eco folk tale for all ages is delightfully presented
by Puppet State Theatre Company.
The
two performers Richard Medrington and Rick Conte create
a gentle world of simple goodness.
Somewhere
in deepest Provence, an old shepherd had the wisdom
to plant acorns everyday, 100 in the morning and 100
in the afternoon. The desolate scrub, where only wild
lavender grows, is transformed into a great forest,
which rejuvenates the local ecosystem. A new population
of birds and people brings renewed life, proving that
the simplest ideas have the most profound effect.
This
production quickly engages even the youngest in the
audience, especially when the star of the show, the
shepherd's dog, is on stage. As a performer with attitude
he keeps everyone on their toes.
The
French origin of the story is evoked by the lively pre-show
French songs, the faded linen of the set and even a
few words of French. It does not shy away from wartime
battles. The emotions are touched and acknowledged very
gently. All the senses are called into play, with the
rain being especially enjoyed.
This
is a delightful hour for families to share together.
Marion
Marples
The
Scotsman
August 22nd 2006
Five Stars *****
IT
IS VERY, very rare to find something that appeals as
effortlessly to children and adults as this magical
show from Edinburgh's Puppet State Theatre Company.
Too
often now, we see people taking the Shrek approach to
family entertainment - a simple, straightforward plot
and some loveable characters for the kids to enjoy,
peppered with a few knowing in-jokes to keep the grown-ups
entertained. In The Man Who Planted Trees, however,
the audience is completely united - everyone laughs
at the same gags and everyone falls silent at precisely
the same moment when things take a turn for the serious.
Performers
Richard Medrington and Rick Conte make an unlikely yet
effervescent double act. Medrington, the straight man,
narrates a beautiful, understated version of Jean Giono's
famous story - first published in Vogue in 1954 - about
a shepherd called Elzeard Bouffier who took it upon
himself to grow a forest in an area of the French Alps
which had previously lain barren. Conte, meanwhile,
gives voice to a hugely likeable puppet called Dog,
who, in a nicely-judged bit of preamble, enthusiastically
agrees to play the part of Elzeard's dog in the story.
Dog
is a wonderful comic creation - he has the whole audience
giggling helplessly within seconds of appearing on stage,
just by saying "hello" and "hi"
a few times and wagging his tail. Gradually, though,
the spell of Medrington's story starts to take hold,
as we follow Elzeard through numerous hardships and
two World Wars.
The
drama is peppered with a host of simple but effective
touches, from the wafting of smells into the audience
at appropriate intervals right down to the utterly lifelike
way in which the Elzeard puppet drinks a pail full of
water. And for all the laughs to be had along the way,
the ending, when it comes, is genuinely touching. In
the performance I saw, as Medrington brought his tale
to a close, I noticed the middle-aged man in the seat
next to me take out a hankie and wipe a tear from his
eye.
Roger
Cox
British
Theatre Guide
Five
Stars *****
August 2007
Jean
Giono's story from the 1950s seems to have far more
relevance in today's world where issues of deforestation
and destruction of the natural environment have suddenly
become huge concerns.
This
is just a wonderful, enchanting piece of theatre for
children or for adults. There is some genuinely very
funny comedy that appeals to all ages at the same time
and some parts that are really quite moving. The puppets
and the sets are great, the story is beautifully told
and Dog is a superb comic character. This show is expertly
put together and is extremely entertaining, and has
deservedly been selling out performances at the lovely
little Netherbow Theatre in the Scottish Storytelling
Centre on the Royal Mile.
David
Chadderton
The
Stage
August
2007
This
lyrically told story of a French farmer's lifelong obsession
with planting trees uses miniature puppetry, birds on
fishing rods and the smells of lavender and forest glades
to create a multi-sensual and visually witty hour of
children's theatre.
Performers
Rick Conte and Richard Medrington work skilfully off
each other. Conte in charge of the farmer's cheeky,
stick-loving puppet dog and Medrington taking us on
a journey into the past and the heart of the French
countryside. Medrington's voice is lilting and perfectly
modulated, shifting pace and intonation, creating tension
and pathos.
The
two performers share banter and badinage, the serious
side of the story dealing with world wars and plutocratic
government officials tempered by Conte's jaunty puppet
work with the dog. Some clever nods to the audience's
suspension of disbelief show children the magic and
playfulness of theatre. It's a carefully judged affair,
balancing history, environmentalism and comedy.
The
smells waft through the theatre, while children leap
from their seats to touch the bobbing birds above their
head. The French farmer's story is gently suggestive
without preaching, his solitude and perseverance a moving
counterweight to the century of bloodshed and corruption
he lives through.
William
McEvoy
Puppet
Notebook
Journal of British UNIMA
(Union Internationale de la Marionnette)
August 2006
The
smell of lavender wafted by giant palm fans and fine
mist sprayed over the audience are two of the delights
in The Man Who Planted Trees. This is an unusual,
imaginative little play with a profound ecological theme
and much humour which should not be missed.
It
is rare to find a puppet show for adults as well as
children which does not use the Gothic. Rather, Richard
Medrington's Puppet State Theatre Comapny's production
uses story-telling as one of its chief devices, which
is appropriate as it will be playing at the newly-refurbished
Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh during the
festival.
The
performance I saw was a dress rehearsal for an invited
Special Needs audience, who clearly were enthralled
by the show. This was very much to Richard Medrington's
credit since the play makes few concessions in language
or in the serious ecological theme.
It
is based on a story by Jean Giono, set before and during
the two world wars, about a man called Elzeard Bouffier,
who turns a desert green by planting trees. The trees
then provide a living for local people and allow other
life to flourish, including bees (cue buzzing and much
humour with a dog dressed in a bee-keeper's veiled hat).
The
antics of the scruffy, endearing dog (a glove puppet
manipulated by American Rick Conte) enthralled the audience
with comic interaction and punning.
Richard
Medrington's skill in word-play (shown off in previous
shows, such as The Adventures of Ivan the Slug)
is on display here. With Rick Conte's droll dog they
make a superb duo.
The
stylish and effective set, designed by Ailie Cohen,
makes imaginative use of hessian drapes over playboards
to evoke the desert landscape. This is transformed by
a few two-dimensioanl trees to represent the forest.
For
five years Richard's production of Winnie the Pooh
played to packed houses, culminating in a run at the
National Theatre. When Disney bought the rights in 2000,
Richard was forced to put his bear into moth-balls.
The scruffy dog may not have Pooh's fame but he will
certainly capture the hearts of many children.
Stephanie
Green
see
www.unima.org.uk
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