[Review] The Dream Dealer
I think it would be fair to say that in John Kielty, the Fringe has found the 21st century’s Child Catcher. Playing the titular role as part Faust, part Bela Lugois and part Vincent Price, the Dream Dealer uses his addictive ice creams to capture the souls of the unwary school children looking to escape real life in the world of dreams.
For the adults in the audience, the metaphor is easily recognised, but the cast (aged between between 10-14, John Kielty and Jonny Field being the only adults) carry this musical with enthusiasm and passion. Seeing the troop thoroughly enjoying themselves is as much a part of the Fringe as the stand-ups travelling up from London. Particular mention goes out to our hero, Finn (Alex Palmer), who manages the solo songs with aplomb, and carries the emotions and frustrations as he watches his school mates, who start out as the all-singing all dancing troupe that you’d expect, slowly become enthralled and addicted to the Dream Dealer’s Iced Dreams.
But, you go away thinking that for all the musical numbers, for all the strong messages, for all the upbeat cheery numbers, it is the evil of John Kielty scaring an entire audience as he descends from the stage into the aisles that will stay with you and haunt you in the mornings.
Recommend for ages of around 9 to 14 for the message, and all other ages for the spectacle.
The Dream Dealer
Playing until 13th August
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August 11th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Hi, I’m in the cast (nothing big), and I must say that I agree about John Keilty. He can be SO EVIL!!! Are you sure it was only the adults who got the drugs metaphor? By the way, you came on Tuesday when it was quite good, but it’s been getting better through the week so COME AGAIN!Incidentally, do you think we were convincingly happy at the end? Yours truly, An excited eleven-year-old
August 14th, 2006 at 12:15 am
I can confirm that kids get the metaphor too, no problem. I asked my nine and twelve-year-olds what they thought this was about, and both chorused “drugs” without hesitation.
We enjoyed ourselves, and as a GP working in the drugs-ridden western fringes of this city, I can say that the show is a clever way to communicate something which we struggle to get across, day to day - clever because it manages to say something without being too preachy.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:18 am
I’m John’s flatmate. He really is evil. It’s not acting, he really is a modern-day-child-catcher; that’s the best description I’ve heard of him.
On his website John described the rest of the cast as “small people who claim to be children, but can’t be because they’re far too intelligent”. It’s difficult to be properly evil without the foil of people who are equally good at being scared….
August 19th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
I was at the 12 August production of this show, and must say I was very impressed with the cast. The “small people” were obvsiously loving the experience of performing at the fringe, whilst the two “grown ups” were very enthusiastic and carried the musical through.
John IS evil and scary and I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of him, but he’s a big softie, really…..talk about method acting….
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:46 am
WE LOVE JOHN and Geoff obv.