Theatre review by Melynda von Wayward

What: ARABELLA
Where: Carlton Courthouse (La Mama Theatre)
When: Nov 6 â?? 24, 2013
Devised & Directed by: Malia Walsh
Performed by: Rockie Stone, Marianna Joslin & Dan Goronszy
Designed by: Tim Tropp & Hamish Fletcher

Arabella is the latest piece of multi-disciplinary theatre devised and Directed by Malia Walsh. A circus stalwart for many years, Malia has become more and more interested in exploring the genre of puppetry as a performance discipline, this time working with the concept of memories, metaphors and myth.

Arabella is young girl who dreams of the fairy tale â??happy ever afterâ?? ending that she has been promised by all good fables. But she ultimately discovers that she is not the special fairy tale character that all of her dreams and hopes are pinned on.

So like a Woman who runs with the Wolves, she allows herself to sink into a memory abyss where time and space stand still and her inner self becomes unboxed and revealed, showing the fragmented aspects of herself.

She soon discovers a physical strength in herself that she never realised she had, and suddenly being rescued by Prince Charming doesnâ??t seem so appealing. But in discovering her hidden layers she also realizes that the vulnerability at the very core of her existence canâ??t be put back inside and taped shut.

A Latin name meaning yielding to prayer, Arabella ultimately yields to her memories â?? the beautiful, dangerous, twisted memories that make up who she is and where the answers to her questions ultimately lie.

With visually impacting costumes and set design by Tim Tropp & Hamish Fletcher, and outstanding performances from Rockie Stone, Marianna Joslin & Dan Goronszy, Arabella has the ability to seamlessly intertwine Puppetry, Circus and Drama to create a memorable and high quality piece of theatre.