Puppet shows arouse in us childhood memories and often ambiguous feelings

of wonder and fear. Bartlau’s production is clever, mesmerising and takes

the viewer through a run of emotions culminating in a recognition of the

truth of death. It follows the story of Sorrel and her quest to return

home after being stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere. The

telling of the story is child-like without being childish and engages us as

a fable would. The masterful use of the puppet ---the lightness of touch,

the interplay of puppeteer and puppet, puppet and scenery, lighting and

sound --- weaves a preternatural story to think and feel back on. The

props are indicative and signalled both passage and symbol.

On the night, there were moments the lighting and action appeared to ‘miss’

each other and mainly in the beginning. Fortyfivedownstairs is a great

theatre space but it was difficult at times to see all of the delicate

movements from the seat in the back row and this reviewer had to strain a

couple of times.  Half way through, the narrative was interrupted by a

brief Greek chorus stint from one the puppeteers involving a German doctor,

a cat and radium --- I struggled. The production ends suddenly but that

happens with life and death journeys. Dispatch has a simple beauty and

depth that is worth a second viewing. Highly recommended.