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‘Tom Thumb’ at Georgia Shakes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THEATER REVIEW. Grade: B-
Tall is not all, and might doesn’t always make right.
Such is the premise of Atlanta playwright Margaret Baldwin’s “Tom Thumb the Great,” the new Georgia Shakespeare family production that borrows from an 18th century political satire by Henry Fielding.
Replete with both actors and puppets large and small, an upside-down mop bucket, a golden cashew and an evil queen in a pompadour wig, this world premiere is a playful summer diversion in which technical invention triumphs over storytelling and the richest humor is derived from a series of jokes about scale and physicality.
Tom Thumb (Derrick Ledbetter) rides in on a chipmunk chariot, scoots around on top of an inverted pail and, during the banquet scene, shrinks into a tiny doll that vexes the wits of his foes. (Ledbetter manipulates the Barbie-sized puppet while hiding underneath the table).
In some of the the funniest bits, the plucky and irreverent Tom proves to be the proverbial bee in the bonnet of bovine-size Queen Dollalolla (Spencer G. Stephens). Far from a thumbsucker, Tom helps King Archibald the Eleventh (Bryan Mercer) battle the giants (who appear both as large-scale shadow puppets and human actors in gigantic full-body costume). He also falls in love with the beautiful Princess Huncamunca (Ally Carey), jostles with her nefarious suitor Lord Grizzle (David Quay) and deals with the inconvenient amorous advances of Gumdalca, the Queen of the Giants. Also played by Stephens, Gumdalca is a humongous puppet creation with a ditzy attitude and a Deep South drawl.
Director Clint Thornton devises some dandy technical tricks and coaxes terrific performances from most of the cast members. Stephens, in particular, is a hoot, and Sam Bardwell’s long-faced, nasal-toned Foodle scores laughs with every line.
On opening night, it was interesting to hear the comments of some young audience members. One gasped to discover that Queen Lolladolla was played by a man; another wondered why the king wore high heels. (Katherine Aurora Callahan’s costumes are of the wig-and-powder variety that ruled the 1700s). But the corny one-liners about alt-rock groups and design principles will probably be lost on this crowd. “Form follows function.” Come on.
Still, it probably won’t matter to most kids that the story feels a little cluttered and wobbly and the humor a little strained. Even if the tomfoolery never builds into a fully cohesive endeavor, “Tom Thumb the Great” sparkles with magical hijinx and no small amount of silly fun.
THE 411: 10 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Through Aug. 2. $10-$12. Georgia Shakespeare, Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-264-0020, gashakespeare.org.
Bottom line: Thumbs half-way up.
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