Alfie loves stories. So when his Grandad gives him a book with no words in it, Alfie is a bit put out – until, that is, Grandad shows him that there are words on the pages if Alfie looks hard enough. They will appear when they are ready.
In The Truth About Trees, a charming little show for young children, Grandad helps Alfie to discover that there’s much more to trees than he’d thought. When the trees in the woodland Alfie passes on his way home from school are threatened by developers, Alfie knows he must find a way to protect them. But can he succeed before the bulldozers move in?
After school Alfie asks Grandad where the words in his book have come from, and there’s a very true to life scene when Grandad not only takes ages to walk home but then wants to be sat down in his armchair with a cup of tea before he’ll tell Alfie anything. When Alfie realises that it’s not Grandad but the tree itself that’s written the book, he needs to know more. So begins his introduction to the making of paper and the secret world of trees. For after all, as Grandad points out, trees stand around all day for hundreds of years – no wonder they have stories to tell.
There are lots of things for young children to enjoy in The Truth About Trees. Alfie’s attempts to make paper in the bath (there’s shampoo, toothpaste and lots of gloop involved) are suitably messy, and his schoolteachers are very funny, especially Miss Hazel, whose speech Morgan Ferguson delivers at a snail’s pace because, as Alfie tells us, ‘some of her lessons are really boring.’
Alfie is determined to stop the proposed development of the wood by making people understand how important trees are for wildlife. As a cynical adult, I was glad to see that Alfie’s first attempts failed – it would have been far too easy if everyone in the town was instantly persuaded. One of the play’s important messages is; don’t give up, try to think of another way around your problems.
Grandad also tells Alfie that trees roots grow together, so that they can share the rain and nutrients they need. Another message – sharing is not only ‘good’ (something that children understandably don’t always feel like being!) but worthwhile; together we are stronger.
Alex Zawalnyski, Morgan Ferguson, and Alex Tait use a variety of devices to tell Alfie’s tale. Shadow puppets depict trees, birds and even a mediaeval knight and his lady. Ferguson, and Tait manipulate a wooden puppet to represent Alfie slowly and laboriously climbing a tree, (a set off shelves standing in for the tree.) Two reflective jackets and hard hats are joggled about as workmen try in vain to fell an oak with a chain saw. Tiny toy trees and a bulldozer represent the real thing.
At the end of the story, Alfie and Grandad plant the acorn Alfie found at the top of the oak; maybe this will be the one acorn in a million that takes root.
I loved the way in which these actors greeted every child individually and showed real interest in them. This is a very friendly show in a small venue, ideal for children who might be intimidated by a larger theatre. Everyone is also offered a little, and very appropriate, gift as they leave. The Truth About Trees has an eco message, but one that never gets in the way of the story. It’s lots of fun too.
The Truth About Trees is an Apropos Theatre production. It was written by Alex Zawalnyski, directed by Laura Hounsell, and developed with support from Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals, Aberdeen Arts Centre, and Ross McKay. See it at The Crate at Assembly George Square (Venue 8) at 11.50 am every day until 24 August. Please note that there is no show on Mondays 11 and 18 August.
This is another venue that I struggled to find, so allow yourself enough time to get there! Assembly staff in George Square can direct you.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-truth-about-trees
