The Wolves at the Window  (and other tales of immorality) by Toby Davis (after Saki). Directed by Thomas Hescott
Theatre: Arcola Theatre, London ,  59e59 Theatre, NY.

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Scenic and Costume Design: Maureen Freedman
Lighting Design: Richard Howell
Sound Design: Tim Digby-Bell
Movement: Dean Hescott-Burke

"..lightened and brightened by the appearance of a goat and a tiger, whose rhyme, reason and physicality will elicit the first long smiles...bravo Maureen Freedman, whose simple...props...(&) costumes are inspired...the stage is well uses despite only minimal furniture and propping by the previously noted, extremely imaginative Freedman," (Alix Cohen, Woman Around Town).

 

"...beautifully designed. Maureen Freedman's set is a scaffold and a few period props, and her slightly over-the-top costumes...capture the time and place with little fuss."(Robert Cashill, nytheatre.com)

 

"Bringing short stories to stage is a tricky business, but Toby Davis has a light respectful touch aided by Maureen Freedman's modern, minimalist set, which looks slightly surreal. The 'Naturally Depraved' scrawled on a rafter speaks volumes. Smartly rendered and acted. Wolves is a gem. Audiences howled". (Furn Siegel, Huffington Post)

 

"Freedman's enjoyably ram-shackled set contains plenty of oddities that do double and triple duty - a series of hat racks house costumes, function as climbable trees and eventually make a deep, dark forest". (Sam Thielman, Variety)

 

"it is cleverly dressed, not only to change from character to character, but to add a sharp edge to their appearance that matches the high style of the playing...its worth going just to see the two men as a goat set out as bait and an elderly tiger...they are created with the greatest economy...but there is not the slightest 'scent of economy' about the effect they create". (Howard Loxton, The British Theatre Guide)

 

"This is an impressive production...and impressive attention to detail, with costumes and props perching neatly between authenticity and Pythonesque silliness...". (Andrew Haydon. Time Out London)

 

"The staging is both economical (few props and costume changes) and highly imaginative (the ailing tiger who enters carrying a walking sticks is a master stroke)". (Robert Shore, Metro London)

 

"Instead of trying to show the audience everything, we entered into a world...aided by Maureen Freedman's uncluttered suggestive and energetic design of umbrella guns, cats in dinner jackets and sheep with cuffs for hooves. The audience was expected to use their imaginations and we were all playing the same game...I loved it".  (Jon Pashley, Kermy's Thoughts: Another Good Night at the Arcola)