Fringe 25: The Truth About Trees

Rating: ★★★.5

‘How can we make them look when they don’t want to see?’

The Truth About Trees from Apropos Theatre is a heartwarming and heartfelt play for children full of environmental enthusiasm. The show centres on Alfie, a young boy, whose grandfather shows him that paper, when made in a special way, can tell the stories of the trees that made it. From there the audience is taken on a journey with Alfie, played by Alex Zawalnyski, through his school and home life when the trees in the forest near his house are threatened, and he attempts to save them by any means necessary.

Apropos explores complex environmental themes in their play, with a focus on climate action and the challenges that face protesters in contemporary society,. However, the presentation and delivery of those themes make it perfect for its intended audience, and rarely does its message grow too convoluted for children or preachy for adults. Instead, it maintains a happy charm, brought to life mainly through puppetry and a comedically exaggerated cast of characters, portrayed in multi-role by Morgan Ferguson and Niamh Blane, who for much of the play embody narrators. The use of these narrators physically in the space and their verbal interaction with Alfie is excellently handled, appearing natural and totally understandable, at once playful and informative. Highlights of their other characters include Alfie’s teacher, whose slow caricatured speech captures the way that Alfie sees her, and Alfie’s grandfather, whose funnier lines and actions can appeal to both children and adults. Throughout, the dialogue dips in and out of rhyme with ease, adding a story-book poetry to some of the scenes that works well with the piece.

In places the story jumps around a lot without clear boundaries, either from place to place or time to time, which, whilst often described in a few words, gestures, or set symbols, may be hard for some children to follow. The role of protest in the story is also key, and dealt with in perhaps too complex, then too simple a way. The manner of Alfie’s protesting against deforestation being ignored carries a cynical sense of realism, a hard-sell to children, but one that can be dealt with in a driven way; however, the ultimate conclusion to this being the axes and chainsaws of the lumberjacks breaking is somewhat unsatisfying to adults, and doesn’t contribute to the earlier themes of protest in a wholly coherent manner.

The most appealing part of The Truth About Trees is the puppetry, which is used with skill and to outstanding effect. Most notably, the puppet of Alfie eventually climbing the tree is beautiful to behold, and the puppet lumberjacks at the end gain an audible wave of laughter from children and adults alike. Overall, if you have children with you this Edinburgh Fringe, The Truth About Trees shouldn’t be written off your considerations, and brings a refreshing breath of environmentalism to children’s theatre.