Can a broken thing be fixed? Do words have weight? Can a mood be printed? Written and directed by Michael Taylor-Broderick, The King of Broken Things takes the audience inside the mind of a little boy to hear him share his wondrous thoughts.
From the beginning to the end of the play, we are in the workshop of this unnamed little boy. While watching him share his assorted masterpieces and thoughts, we learn about his family and the state of his life from his inadvertent words: his parents divorced a long time ago, he hasn't seen his father for a while, his mother seems to be very heartbroken, he is often bullied at school...
As soon as we enter the theatre, we are transported into the boy's workshop (Bryan Hiles, Michael Taylor-Broderick and Darren Peens). The walls behind the stage are painted with scribbles, and the stage is filled with all sorts of broken things: a broken printer, a broken bicycle, a broken vacuum cleaner, a broken umbrella... However, their appearance doesn't make it seem like a dilapidated place; rather, it is full of imagination. Most of the time, the stage was lit in a dim yellow, making the environment even more intimate, as if the audience was invited into his studio to hear him tell stories that no one else could hear.
Cara Roberts’ performance is full of childlike innocence and simplicity. It's not an easy task to have an adult portray a child, but her performance not only makes you believe in the little boy she's depicting, but you also cannot help but feel a little pity for this lonely child. Even when she is telling some truths that adults already understand, it is easy to listen peacefully.
In this production, the audience is really a listener to the little boy, and he interacts with them from time to time. Sometimes, it is asking the audience if they can help write a word; sometimes, it is asking if they can help fix something; and sometimes, it is asking the audience to close their eyes. All of these interactions are very natural given the content of this play.
It may seem like the story is about fixing things, but it's really more about how we can ‘fix’ people. Although many of the questions posed by the little boy are full of childishness in a way that grown-ups do not possess, it is still easy to follow and think about the answers to these questions. However, the questions are a bit monotonous without a clear storyline.
Apart from the thoughts of the boy, the play makes you wonder more about the boy and his family situation, and what has made him think the way that he is now. If more of these layers can be revealed, this production will become more intriguing and engaging. Whereas now, it's more of a secret little room for both children and adults, one that if you step into, you'll have more courage and beauty when you walk out.
The King of Broken Things runs at Riverside Studios until 4th January 2025.
★★★☆☆ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Suzy Bernstein
