Pair gives classic tale a new twist

Jason and the Argonauts has set sail for the landlocked shores of St. Albert and they will dock at the International Children’s Festival from June 1 to 5.

With two actors and a navy of G.I. Joe action figures, this liberal interpretation of the classic myth returns to the golden age of Greek gods and larger-than-life men.

Douglas Irvine, director of Visible Fictions Theatre from the United Kingdom has given a new face to this swashbuckling odyssey of a young man who claims his throne, wrongly usurped by a villainous uncle. It is Jason’s story and that of a boatload of loyal Argonauts who set sail on a fantastic voyage to find the Golden Fleece and restore order to a shattered kingdom.

“It’s such a classic tale. Children love monsters and they love the element of action. Because it’s done in such a classic way, it keeps the audience interested in the goings on,” says actor Tim Settle.

Both Settle and his partner Simon Donaldson are contract actors originally hired by Visible Fictions to perform this epic adventure during a two-month tour of Scotland and Ireland.

But while at the Edinburgh Children’s Festival, they were spotted by a scout and invited to Florida’s I Pay Festival to play two shows. “The two shows we performed were the warmest audience we had played to and we got six months worth of bookings from them.”

That was four years ago. Since then they crossed the Atlantic about seven times and navigated more American terrain than most inhabitants. Two highlights were performances at Broadway’s New Victory Theatre and Sydney’s Opera House. “We feel so incredibly lucky. We get to do something we really enjoy.”

Part of the appeal is the two actors’ visible roles. In most puppet shows, the actors take a role behind the puppets. But in Jason, they launch this grand tale as two storytellers, Josh, the straight-laced character and Andy, the more mischievous moderator. “We become the monsters. We manipulate the boat. It sounds bonkers, but it works,” explains Donaldson.

They have an elaborate set with a giant cart and several boats. Throughout the 65-minute show, there is a bold combination of sound effects and flashing lights interspersed with a score composed by Don Padden. While Robert Frost’s script is fairly straightforward, the duo improvises the jokes. “We certainly feel we are part of the show and it is part of us.”

Even though this is billed as a children’s show, the duo encourages everyone over the age of nine to attend. “The best shows we do are family shows. They’re wordy and visually funny.”