It's time for my review of The Tricycle.The Tricycle is the story of three teenagers who try to survive after the Spanish Civil War by renting a tricycle to give rides to children in the park - something very common in Spain before and after the war. They are homeless, living in a park, and share the space with an old man who plays the flute.
The Tricycle has a somewhat intriguing story, and yet I had rather mixed views on it. On the one hand, the show deals with the subject matter of homelessness; an issue which I personally find to be very interesting. It explores the lives of four homeless citizens, and their struggle to make ends meet. The show does successfully evoke certain emotions, primarily sympathy and compassion. Despite the fact that the main characters partake in an evil deed, it is still hard not to empathise with their own personal suffering. In this respect, the play succeeds in being effective. Where the writing is slightly weaker however is its context. Upon doing research for my review after having watched the play, I discovered that the play had been set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Despite this fact, there was nothing explicit in the show to suggest this fact, which may have limited its impact. The time period and location of The Tricycle remains unclear throughout, and had I not read this upon doing further research I simply would not have realised the play's context. In addition to this, I did feel leaving the theatre that the overall message of the play was somewhat uncertain. Whilst the theme was obviously homelessness, it is not quite apparent as to what moral messages we are meant to take away from The Tricycle. Further clarity on this matter may help to make the play more impactful.
In relation to the cast, Lakshmi Khabrani's excellent portrayal of Mita was the highlight of the production. Khabrani was naturally talented and had a remarkable stage presence. She was unquestionably believable as her character, and her exceptional amount of energy made her interesting to watch. In addition to that, Ryan Yengo as Climando was also very believable and delivered a solid characterisation. He too also brought great energy to the piece, and was a delight to watch.
Now for my final verdict on The Tricycle. I give The Tricycle...
Despite exploring some interesting themes, The Tricycle would greatly benefit from further context. Regardless, there are still some fantastic performances.
Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.
Thanks for reading!
-The Basic Theatre Reviewer
