The Stage

Journey to the River Sea

Published Friday 15 December 2006 at 12:00 by Susan Elkin

Even better in its revival than in its first outing and after its extensive UK tour, this now slightly amended show has an unusual energetic charm as it hurtles the audience from stilted 19th century London to the vibrant colours and sounds of the Amazon - complete with incongruous European opera house. Eva Ibbotson’s story has all the classic elements of a journey, characters turning out not be quite who or what they seem and nasty pieces of work getting their comeuppance.

As before, I love the way Rosamunde Hutt uses the multi-talented cast - some of whom play instruments on stage - as a rhythmic, half-singing, half-chanting chorus to drive the action. And their harmony is impeccably controlled.

Orphaned Maia (Lucy Rivers) evokes a strong sense of innocence spiced with common sense and humanity and Julie Hewlett as the rather surprising Miss Minton conveys a warm-blooded passionate woman (with a bit of a past) disguised by self-control and corsets.

In an exceptionally strong cast the magnificent singing of Nina Kristofferson shines like a beacon. She is an entertaining duo with the ebullient Sam Adams too, both as a pair of spiteful, ill-bred sisters and as two overcoated private detectives.