“We have sailed many weeks, we have sailed many days,
(Seven days to the week I allow),
But a Snark, on the which we might lovingly gaze,
We have never beheld till now!
”
Prepare for a voyage where anything goes, where nonsense abounds and musical numbers flow. The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll, he of Alice in Wonderland fame, is a poetic extension of the author’s love for the silly, the impossible, the fantastic. This school holidays see it brought to life on the stage of the Playhouse at Sydney Opera House.
Carroll wrote the so-called, nonsense poem, from 1874 to 1876 and now it has been reimagined for an audience of 2018, with references to numerous markers of modern Australian culture and society. Join a bellman, a baker, a banker, a beaver (who knits) and a boy as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime into the mythical realms of Snark Island.
There they must overcome the exotic terrain, a thieving Bandersnatch, the hungry ship’s butcher and hope their search for the Snark doesn’t turn up its evil counterpart the boojum. With references to another of Carroll’s works borrowing setting, words and characters from Jabberwocky, this 70 minute musical production is alive with the colourful imagination of a literary genius who knew just how to tap into the sensibilities of a child through words alone.
My 6yo was laughing along as the hilarious ragtag gang, cast in this hilarious tale of exploration, go in search of Carroll’s mythical Snark. Though on the surface this may be the case, if you count to blue and look a bit closer you’ll see the characters are searching for something a little bit more valuable.
Laugh out loud funny, vivid, vibrant and oh so entertaining, The Hunting of the Snark is a fable fit for the whole family. All children, animals and silly people welcome!
What you need to know:
What: The Hunting of the Snark
Where: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
When: 17-22 July 2018
Time: Performances run daily at 10.30, 12.30 and 2.30 depending on which day you book
Duration: 70 mins (no interval)
Cost: $27 + $8.50 booking fee
Target audience: Kids 6+ and their families (I took my 3yo too and he loved it)
Getting there: You can book a bay at Wilson Parking for as little as $10.50 with 30 minutes either side of your hour’s booking. Alternatively you can catch a bus, train or ferry to Circular Quay and walk the 6 minutes to the Opera House.
Note: Photography and filming are not permitted during the show