Wonder Boy, winner of the 2023 Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play, is a soul-stirring theatrical gift that explores how different and inclusive ways of communication can empower lives. Astutely written by Ross Willis, Bristol Old Vic’s 2022 acclaimed touring production of Wonder Boy is a visually jam-packed roller-coaster journey about adolescence.
Despite dealing with complex and dark topics, Willis’ dialogue is ripe with humour. Wonder Boy is underpinned throughout with live creative captioning on stage designed by award-winning Limbic Cinema, which also includes punchy comic-book onomatopoeias.
Twelve-year-old Sonny has become anxious and socially withdrawn due to a stammer and a personal bereavement. He’s trying to find his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and the biggest monster of them all – small talk.
Sonny’s only ally is his alter-ego, Captain Chatter, a space-traveling comic book hero of his imagination who frees Sonny from all social constraints and rescues him from ever having to speak in public. However, when he lands the role of the watchman in his school’s lunchtime production of Hamlet, Sonny must learn to find his own voice.
Sally Cookson’s nifty direction constantly abounds in sparky ingenuity, and one of the strongest visual moments captures Sonny’s experience of being crushed by language, as he is literally trapped under the weight of the letters of the alphabet. Equally, there are mixed responses by the students about Hamlet’s relevance to the modern school syllabus, and one of Sonny’s peers hilariously describes the Bard’s play as “a shit version of The Lion King.” They cannot win, though; the school curriculum is set, and ‘the Bard is coming.’
Hilson Agbangbe gives a beautifully sensitive performance as Sonny. Some of the most moving moments of the play are delivered as his character struggles with his speech. He is supported by a superb ensemble cast.
Ciaran O’Breen excels as Sonny’s imaginary friend, Captain Chatter, who communicates in a mixture of British Sign Language and visual vernacular, providing an almost elastic surreal slapstick. On his personal journey, Sonny discovers that there are heroes closer to home, including Miss Wainwright (brilliantly played by Eva Scott), a nurturing, no-nonsense, potty-mouthed teacher who dares to challenge the rigid education system.
Another of Sonny’s champions includes fiery school pal Roshi, played by Naia Elliott-Spence, who showcases her outstanding comedy skills with a hilariously supersonic breakneck Gen Z version of the Hamlet plot.
Wonder Boy is at Stratford East until 19th October 2024
