TOTO KERBLAMMO! CLASSROOM REFLECTION SUMMARY OF THE PLAY FOR TEACHERS For more information about themes in the play please download our pre-show THEMES resource
The play opens with 12 year old Effy and her beloved dog, Toto. Effy is in hospital after being run over by a car. We piece together Effie’s world through glimpses which we see and hear. Effy’s Mum has poor mental health, and has been placed in a secure psychiatric hospital after setting fire to the house while her and Effy were sleeping – it is unclear if this was deliberate or an accident. We hear how difficult Effy’s relationship is with her mum throughout the play, she is unkind and there are signs of neglect. So Effy is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in a flat where no pets are allowed. Effy would rather live with her Dad in Scotland, who she hasn’t seen for a long time. Effy’s closest and only trusted friend is her dog Toto. She sneaks Toto into her Aunt’s in a small box. She meets a neighbour, Noah – who is very different from her and she does not trust him. (Noah is played by the same actor as Toto and there are similarities between the two characters). Effy gets to know Noah a little bit better, they gradually become friends. Effy gets into an argument with her Aunt when Toto is discovered. She runs away with Toto and they are hit by a car on the road. Effy is visited by her mum and Noah in hospital. She slowly comes out of the coma, and as she gets better we realise Toto is dying. Effy and Noah rush out of the hospital to save Toto but it is too late. The play ends with a touching scene between Effy and Noah, Effy allows herself to get closer and Noah says he’ll look after her – we see her learn how to shift some of the trusting relationship she had with her pet to a human. It ends with birdsong.
CURRICULUM LINKS The play is relevant to the following PSHE topics: Personal Safety Emotional Literacy
Mental Health Responsibility
Relationships