Type – Adaptation, Family Show, Optimistic
If you liked – Cloudstreet, Boy Swallows Universe, Saplings
The Book of Everything: An uplifting story of courage and optimism. Its charm and wonder will win you over by the end.
Situated on the Belvoir St stage is Kim Carpenter‘s wonderous oversized book, scrawled with the childlike writing of ‘The Book of Everything’. This is the imaginative centre in which Richard Tulloch’s stage adaptation of Guus Kuijer’s The Book of Everything sits. Underscored by Jack Ward‘s live music accompaniment, this is the sweet, wholesome tale of optimism we need to reconnect with our childlike sense of wonder.
Belvoir St, quickly becoming the home of literary adaptations, brings back its 2013 production with a majority of its main cast returning some thirteen years on. This is a production of irresistable joy, which ultimately ends with an uplifiting message of courage and optimism – even if the first act has to drag you through to its much stronger second.
Set in post-Nazi Netherlands, nine-year-old-almost-ten Thomas (Matthew Whittet) lives with his nuclear family under the rule of his brutally fundamelist Christian father (John Gaden). Next door, the neighbourhood “witch” Mrs Van Amersfoort (Julie Forsyth) lives in direct opposition to the abusive goings on in Thomas’ house. This may sound rather grim for a family show, but the show’s more darker themes are handled with a light touch, avoiding its unsuitability for the family-show marketing.
Direction by Neil Armfield leans into the childlike sense of merriment, with the more experienced cast leaning into their childlike sense of play; there’s not many productions you get to see Pamela Rabe lounge about as a cat. There is a mission here to find the emotional truth at the centre of Tulloch’s adaptation, with the airs of a Tim Winton novel layered throughout.
The underscoring of Ward’s music amplifies the tone of every scene, weaving itself seamlessly into every aspect. It’s not too overwhelming, nor is it underplayed, as it invites us in and fills the space. As does Carpenter’s rather wonderous book, whose pages turn to set us in every scene, inviting us into Thomas’ world and adds some rather pleasing hidden secrets along the way.
Where the production fumbles is its desire to bring the audience into the story, which mostly feels tacked on. An early second act participation involving a rather large amount of ping pong balls feels like a fruitless endeavour, causing more of a hassle to continue the story than what it offers.
The show itself could have been a tight 90-minute production – particularly if this is one aimed at families – but the first act feels like a labour to arrive at the much tighter second with added humour, depth and emotional payoff. With some plot lines raising eyebrows (ten-year-old Thomas’ infatuation with a sixteen-year-old Eliza could have done with some editing) the adaptation could have leaned more into “The Book of Only Some Things” instead.
There are highlights offered throughout, mostly guided by Whittet’s Thomas who imbues his optimism and charm into the play’s very core. The very Book of Mormon-esque revelry of John Leary‘s appearances as a rather ocker Jesus are themselves a religious joy, as is Rabe who of course steals the show in one scene of which she chews up every moment of feminism she can. Bridie McKim offers a radiance of charm in her appearances, while Forsyth’s witchy Mrs Van Amersfoort acts as the guiding light for Thomas’ sense of courage.
Is The Book of Everything Worth Seeing in Sydney?
By the show’s end, you can’t help but revel in the sense of joy that the production gifts. Don’t be deterred to bring your younger ones to the production, if they can sit through the 2hr and 20min (with interval) runtime, then perhaps they too can learn from Thomas’ journey.
To grow up to be happy? That’s really what we all should be aspiring to.
Tickets and Practical Info for The Book of Everything in Sydney 🎟️
From the novel by Guus Kuijer
Adapted by Richard Tulloch
Directed by Neil Armfield
Set & Costume by Kim Carpenter
A co-production with Kim Carpenter’s Theatre of Image
Venue: Upstairs Theatre
Dates: 22 Aug – 20 Sep 26
Tickets: https://belvoir.com.au/productions/the-book-of-everything-3/
Content warning
Approximate running times of each production are uploaded to the production page as soon as that information becomes available. During the rehearsal period running times are liable to change given the extensive workshopping and development each production undergoes before it reaches the stage.
Content warning: This production contains depictions of domestic violence (including against a child), emotional abuse, coercive control strobe lighting and loud noises.
Should you wish to speak to a member of staff regarding running times, content warnings or any other show-related queries, our box office can be contacted on 02 9699 3444.
Supported by
The Creative Development Fund
Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation
