Fringe Review: "Cardboard Kingdom" is Playful and Spirited
I feel it when I’m trying to smash out another stupid uni assessment about a topic I don’t care about after leaving it to the last moment once again. I feel it when I keep telling myself, “One day I’ll write a novel,” or “One day I’ll write an album,” but never seem to have the motivation to do either. I feel it when I struggle to write a review for something, no matter how much I loved it. I’m losing touch with my creative side... And that’s what Cardboard Kingdom is all about.
Cardboard Kingdom is the most heartfelt wakeup call imaginable. By turns abstract and painfully real, the show is a reminder of how important it is to let kids just be kids. On a stage adorned with cardboard boxes, the play harkens back to a time when you could let your imagination run wild over the simplest things. This world of imagination is in danger, however, by the crushing reality of real world responsibilities, often putting an end to the fun.
The passion on display in all facets of the play is the kind that made me fall in love with theatre in the first place. The desire to perform, create and teach is palpable in the script, the performances and the simplistic production elements. The cast (from Riptide, a Mandurah-based production company providing experiences for 15-25 year olds) all demonstrated raw talent, embodying the spirit of the production. I’m sure they all have bright futures in theatre ahead of them; and I don’t mean to sound patronising by saying that, they were all simply awesome performers.
I felt an enormous rush of energy witnessing this, such that I had a burning desire to jump on stage and join in. It revitalised something in me that I didn’t even realise was waning. It was quite possibly the best thing I've seen at Fringe so far. Anyway, I now have an unexpected surge of creative energy, so time to figure out what to do with that.
5/5
