Director and writer: Laura Lindow.
Cast: Scott Turnbull and Chris Price.
Northern Stage.
Review by Kat Bishop.
Cuddy Gill is like every other 11 year-old boy. He is lively, cheeky and has a vast imagination. But he was born ‘special’. His skin was the colour of a blueberry... He is the blue boy. He spends an awful lot of time in his uncomfortable hospital bed, with only his teddy to keep him company as he waits for his second heart transplant. But his extraordinary imagination holds a delightful treat in store for every one of us. Cuddy tells his life story with the help of Dan, his equally cheeky, imaginary 12 year-old friend. As the friends tumble, giggle and joke their way through Cuddy’s short, but harrowing, life story, we are taken on an exciting journey of child’s play, fantasy islands, and magical roundabouts. Throughout the performance, Cuddy and Dan work their way through the magic drawers under the bed, each one containing an equally heart-warming and humorous anecdote.
Following Heartbreak Soup’s huge success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008, the production toured nationally throughout 2009. Director and writer, Laura Lindow’s inspired story was conceived after working as a clown doctor, in the heart and lung unit of the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. She delicately explores the ‘halfway house of the transplant experience in which so many children and their families reside’. Her wonderful production perceptively captures the exasperation of waiting and the unknown, common emotions for heart transplant patients. The choice of cast was exceptional; Cuddy and Dan were played fantastically by Scott Turnbull and Chris Price. Their performance was endearing. They combined the emotions of childish excitement and apprehension perfectly, playing truly realistic 11 and 12 year olds!
Scott’s characterisation of Cuddy was spot on. The perfect mixture of cheeky coyness and energetic on-stage manner created a lovable 11 year old, who appeared far braver than he actually let on. In Cuddy’s darker moments, Dan was there to lift his mood and remind him of the good times. Chris played Dan brilliantly; his larger-than-life attitude was both charming and amusing. Although Dan is the side-kick and always second in command, he keeps Cuddy on the straight and narrow. He poignantly reminded the audience that you have to take the good with the bad.
The chemistry between Scott and Chris was enchanting throughout. They farted, squealed and belched their way through some hilarious scenes. They set up base camp on ‘Holly Willoughby’ Island, fought off a deadly giant aorta and swam through creature infested seas... pretty normal stuff for 11 year old boys. Although comedy was a huge part of the production, Lindow never lost sight of her original question: ‘what anxieties and understandings hide under the bed of a child pre-transplant?’ There are some heart-wrenching moments, where the tears flowed freely, but the balance between the serious and comedic is perfect.
Lindow approaches the traumatic reality of heart surgery with real sensitivity. What could have been bleak turned into an enjoyable exploration of the infinite possibilities within a child’s imagination. This is a must-see production for children and adults alike. We guarantee it will be loved by all.
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