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★★★★
At the intimate Bridewell Theatre on an alleyway off Fleet Street, there is currently a new piece of family-friendly theatre playing until 10th October, Mr Moore’s Bizarre Secret Society. Written by author Gloria Danili and directed by Polka Theatre’s Associate Director Roman Stefanski, the play is set in Victorian London and centres on the downbeat and impoverished Mr Moore who meets the young Leopold who has recently moved to London to live with his Uncle Vernon. What originally enticed me to this project was the show’s promotional wording, with the creative team describing the work as influenced by the stories of Lewis Carroll and Charles Dickens. I headed up to London yesterday evening for their press night and found it to be a whimsical and imaginative piece of theatre for all ages.
About the play
There’s a childlike wonder to the story, which is set in 1865 and sees both Mr Moore and Leopold meet by chance and then stumble across a vacant tearoom. The pair face obstacles whilst turning the location into an emporium of possibilities, set against the world of Victorian London, where people are either highly affluent or struggle to put food on the table. The material is comical and silly, but there are also several underlying messages about hopes, dreams, the wealth divide and the realities of the time period, which allows the material to appeal to all ages. The play is split into two acts, with the first half running at approximately an hour and the second concluding in 30 minutes. Whilst I thought this was a play with a really engaging narrative, it could benefit from slightly less context building at the start, which would make the overall piece feel more evenly paced.
Recreating the Victorian era
At the very start of the show, it is immediately apparent how much the creative team have focused on transporting audiences to the Victorian period. From the costume design to the props and cockney language, as an audience member you really feel like you have stepped into a world similar to what Dickens or Carroll would have created. These elements are supported by dynamic and evolving lighting design (Aaron Dootson), playful music (compositions by Neil Brand) and atmospheric video design (Julian Butler), which introduces a literary angle to the storytelling and guides audiences through the events of the story. Each scene is bookended with illustrative scene descriptors which summarise the upcoming scene. It makes the material straightforward to follow and keeps audience attention during the scene transitions. The only thing I found was that whilst the video design is dynamic, the fusion of the screen and physical set is sometimes a little jarring. It can draw attention away from the action in places and isn’t always needed, as the props and action speak for themselves.
Lively cast performances
In terms of cast performances, the entire company gives their all to this array of characters. Highlights begin with Michael Bertenshaw who brings so much depth to the complex figure Mr Moore. The character also goes on such a journey throughout the show and Bertenshaw gently guides the audience through the figure’s many layers. Derek Jeck is also magnetic as the dual roles of Vernon Liddell and Lewis Carroll. They really capture the audience’s attention in every scene they are a part of, particularly in the Old Bailey courtroom. The star of the show however is Sofia Inforzato who plays Alice Liddell, Lillian Sullivan, Eliza Papergirl, Scarlett Flower Girl, Orphanage Child, Maid Betsy and Match Seller. They switch between these roles confidently and bring so much charisma and energy to the production.
Imaginative and filled with wonder
Mr Moore’s Bizarre Secret Society is a charming London-themed fairytale that is bound to make audiences smile. The fun characters are what makes this production and at this intimate off-West End venue, you can’t help but feel like you’ve stumbled across a real gem of a play that is authentic to Victorian London. Mr Moore’s Bizarre Secret Society runs at the Bridewell Theatre until 10th October, with tickets available via the show’s website.
*My ticket for Mr Moore’s Bizarre Secret Society was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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