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| Macbeth - July 22 23 24 2010 - Gadzooks Theatre Company, Plymouth, Devon THEATRE folk regard Macbeth as an unlucky play. No disasters here, though, as directed by Sam Grayston in his fast-paced production. The play, Shakepeare's shortest tragedy, is notoriously full of pitfalls, but here most of them have been avoided through imaginative solutions. For instance, the sometimes hard to take Witches are convincingly integrated, the fights are realistic, and the especially tricky sequence of Macbeth's vision of the future is achieved by shadow puppets and a startling eruption through the screen. There is a carefully executed use of frozen action to emphasise or counterpoint sequences. The set is multi-purpose, different locations being isolated by lighting, and, except for Lady Macbeth, the costumes are basically the now often adopted rehearsal garb with specific items to personalise characters, plus lethal swords, which get plenty of use. But central to the production is the relationship between Macbeth and his Lady. Robert Chapman may be a bit young to fulfil Olivier's belief that to play Macbeth successfully "an actor has to be of a certain age in life's experience", but the player inhabited the role as a fervent exploration of ambition and power in a flawed man eager to bolster his resolve by belief in the half truths the witches offer. To this he added a powerful physicality and a command of Shakespeare's poetry without muddying its meaning. Lady Macbeth mirrors him, indeed outstrips him, in ambition and is clearly the motivating force, more so than the witches. Jane Grayston is a passionate, single-minded wife, who ultimately cannot cope with the consequences of her actions, and her sleepwalking scene crowns her performance. Between them there was real chemistry, and their timing was impeccable. Also notable was Jojo who portrayed a regal but kindly King Duncan, and then followed the Elizabethan tradition of encouraging the company's comedian as the Porter to raise laughter in the groundlings. In the large cast there were bound to be less convincing performances, but the ensemble and discipline could not be faulted. A rewarding production of a great play. Links: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Real-chemistry-avoids-disaster/article-2453856-detail/article.html http://www.gadzookstheatre.com Plymouth Evening Herald |
| Pack of Lies - 24/04/2010 Little Waltham Drama put on Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore. Surprisingly this production has been put on by several other groups in the area but I only saw this one. I was glad that I went along. The set on the very small stage a Little Waltham was a master piece of ingenuity. Tardis like in its ability to make us believe that the stage had been extended to accommodate the ground floor of a normal house in 70s Suburbia. Stage left was the living room; stage right was the kitchen / diner; up centre was a hall doorway leading to the front door and the stairs; downstage right was a back door leading to a garden. All these things were on stage but the walls between the living room and kitchen were imaginary as were the wall supposedly at the back of the house; the garden door stood on its own like a sentinel guarding the access to the outside world. Good use was made of the entrances through the hall up to the garden door as if walking up through the garden. The Group had even dressed the wall of the hall stage right with a fence covered in shrubbery - a good touch! As an audience we soon forgot the absence of walls, our imaginations filled in what we couldn't actually see - a tribute to cast and director that this came off so successfully. The play takes place in the house of Bob and Barbara Jackson who are visited by Stewart an MI5 man who intimates in a very roundabout way that their good friends and neighbours Helen and Peter Kroger are under suspicion for being linked to 'a man we are watching who always visits this area over the weekend.' This very clever and well written script explores the stresses and strains that the whole Jackson family, including daughter Julie, come under while accommodating an MI5 watcher in their upstairs bedroom and trying to continue their relationship with the 'best friends' the Krogers. All the actors played their parts exceedingly well, the few prompts were quickly over forgotten and forgiven. The audience was caught up in the drama and the tension. Even my 9 year old daughter was captured and fascinated by the play. The director was lucky enough to have Linda Burrow, a real American, play the part of Helen Kroger. Linda was suitably over the top friendly zany American, never once missing a beat in her performance she captured the stage whenever she appeared. Brian Corrie did an admirable job as Helen's husband Peter Kroger. Brian held his accent throughout and gave that typical American toothy grin and gravel voice that so readily depicts this type of man. He was believable and we believed him. Barbara Jackson was played by Victoria Rossiter. This was a daunting part which required every emotion to be shown and registered with us the audience and register it did. Vickki was rarely off stage and must have been exhausted by the end. It was through Barbara that we were shown the difficulty the family had in playing the spy. She it was who had to contend with the watchers upstairs while still being openly friendly to the Krogers. She it was whose heart and mind fought each other as she first believed them innocent and then admitted to herself that they were guilty. She it was who was torn apart by these months of playing the spy. The daughter Julie played very well by Zoe Pearson gave us all the problems associated with teenage hood; the riding of motorcycles with undesirable boys; the excitement of having her room used by MI5; the joy of being young. All this while not knowing that it was Auntie Helen and Uncle Peter that were being spied upon. This revelation at the end broke her apart and she showed this to us. Martin Final as the MI5 man Stewart gave an understated performance. Quiet, authoritative, devious. He only gave as little information as he could get away with, he left these poor Jacksons in a state of anxiety and quoted the Official Secrets Act in a strangely offhand way that left the Jacksons in no doubt as to which side they were on. Cool and calm at all times - I felt that I wanted to see more of him, I wanted to see the steel of his inner core but that was not to be. The watchers played by Nicola Ayris and the smaller part by Sue Joyce did a good job and played it simply as people doing a fairly boring job. Apologising for being there in someone else's house, trying to be friendly and in Nicola's case showing that she understood something of what Barbara was going through. Throughout the performance there were little cameo monologues which the director (Margaret Simmonds) had people deliver from downstage in spotlight. This was very effective, it caught at our attention, made us sit up and listen, a great idea. Never more so than when at the end the Krogers have been wrapped up and taken off to gaol and Bob Jackson come to the front to tell us that some few years later his wife had died from a heart attack - leaving us to believe that it was the strain of the whole episode that brought this about. Such was the strength of this delivery that several people in the audience cried openly. Who needs the West End when such talent as this can be found on our doorsteps. Peter Travell |
| George's Marvellous Medicine - 13/04/2010 I took my daughter along to see this children's show based on the book by Roald Dahl. Here is her evaluation: My Marvellous Day. My Marvellous Day was about going to the theatre. We went to go and see George's Marvellous Medicine on stage. The person that wrote the book was Roald Dahl and adapted for the stage by David Wood. The Director was Phil Clark and the Lighting Designer was Jacqueline Clark. The composer of the music was Matthew Scott, sound designer was Tom Lishman and the puppet master was Roman Stefanski, he was in charge of all the animal puppets. Also George was played by Clark Devlin, Mum was played by Alason Fitzjohn, Dad by Tom Woodman, Grandma by Erika Poole and the Giant Chicken was Jason O'Brien. My favourite part of the play was when Grandma grew and grew after she drank the marvellous medicine that George had made and her head went through the roof. My other favourite part of the play was when the chicken drank the marvellous medicine and grew then chased George and his Mum & Dad round and round then it laid a giant egg! Grandma drinks a second cup of medicine and shrinks and shrinks until she disappears. At the end of the play Grandma had the curtains shut and sudenly after Grandma disappeared Grandma's shadow where the curtains were shut appeared and said "I told you I had magic at the end of my fingers but you didn't believe your old Grandma did you?" Then when george opened the curtain she had gone. Also when george put his hands up he said "Today I've touched a new magic world" and lightening came out of his fingers. I really enjoyed this play. I even got ice cream at the interval. After we went to my Nanny's house and had a lovely dinner. Chloe Mae aged 9 |
| The Lady Vanishes - 06/03/2010 I enjoyed this play but more as a comedy than a suspense thriller. The production failed to make the audience sit up in their seats and wonder what was going to happen next. Perhaps because The Lady Vanishes is an old story that we all know so well. Whatever the reason the cast seemed to sense the lack of drama and played their parts to full comedic effect, where the script allowed. The train, which formed the backdrop for the majority of the action was very cleverly managed. Three carriages cleverly straddling the stage and occasionally being shunted, really did give the impression of a train moving although the static backdrop of the alps gave lie to that effect. Unfortunately, in ensuring that the train was adequate to the task of providing the backdrop to the story, which of course takes place on a train, the production threw away the hotel scene by having an unbelievable hotel with the most unlikely of bedrooms and foyers. I think the production asked too much of its audience's imagination to find the scene believable at any level. This is where the comedy started with a wonderful italian hotel manager, played entirely for laughs by Terry Molloy who also doubled as the plausible Docktor Hartz. I went to the matinee performance, which was populated mainly by elderly people and I noticed several grey heads 'nodding' and wives using their elbows to good effect to ensure wakefullness in their husbands. It was a good laugh and it is undoubtedly a good story that stands the test of time. In this production however the suspense and mystery were entirely missing, Peter Travell |
| That'll Be The Day - 15/02/2010 What a show! I’ve often seen it advertised at our local theatres but never actually been along to see it. It was great! Songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s sung with gusto and charm. The show was littered with comedy sketches backed up by movie footage to highlight the era and to complement the humour. It was all brilliant fun. The theatre was packed to the rafters and talking with some of my fellow audience members most of them were avid admirers of the show having been several times before and as for myself having now finally experienced and enjoyed the show I shall definitely be seeing it again. Brilliant take-offs of some of the most well known singers of the era: Cliff Richard; Elvis Presley; Buddy Holly; Little Richard; Mick Jagger; the list was endless and the music was wonderful. Audience participation was invited and encouraged but in no way was this in the style of pantomime this was a glorious review of the decades interspersed with extremely funny and clever sketches and imitations from the very talented performers. I was amazed that the performers managed to switch vocal styles, instruments and costumes with such alacrity and aplomb. Foot tapping; hand clapping; crazy laughable fun. Next year is the shows 25th year anniversary. I shall definitely be buying a ticket and I would certainly advise anyone else to do the same. A wonderful show long may it continue. Peter Travell |
Troy Players Cornish Guardian |
Fame Dunmow Broadcast & Recorder |
Joseph & The Technicolour Dreamcoat Dunmow Broadcast & Recorder |
| THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Essex Chamber Orchestra at Christ Church 19.09.09 ECHO was born in 1979, to give musicians from EYO performing opportunities as they turned 21. Thirty years on, it still boasts many of those youngsters, as well as many others who live or work in the county. For this anniversary concert, they chose three popular pieces. First, Weber's overture to Der Freischutz, with its dramatic strings, and of course the huntsmen's horns. John Mills, who played the Britten concerto with the orchestra last year, was back as soloist in the more familiar Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. It was a forthright, fluent performance, with a gripping cadenza in the opening Allegro. Later, a little of the detail was lost in the general enthusiasm [or was it the acoustic ?] but this was an impressive, engaging performance by any standards. After the interval, Saint-Saens great Organ Symphony, with the might and muscle of the orchestra matched by Simon Harvey at the Christ Church Organ. A driven, urgent performance; we were concerned that there might not be enough energy left for the final pages, but Colin Touchin and his considerable forces had strength in reserve, and we were certainly not disappointed. ECHO were led by Suzanne Loze, with Timothy Carey and Alison Eales at the piano. |
| Vienna by Candlelight The Locrian Ensemble Civic Theatre 19th September Jim Hutchon was in the stalls ... The Locrian Ensemble transported us from a damp Chelmsford Saturday into the lush Imperial world of Vienna, complete with powdered wigs and tights set in a classical statuary backdrop. But the light-heartedness of the setting, or the jokey anecdotes, fooled no-one, this is a group that is serious about its music and its expression. The Ensemble comes together for these ‘Vienna by Candlelight’ concerts, although all the members are sought after soloists in their own right. They are led by Rita Manning, formerly leader of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Orchestra, who was able to breathe unexpected vibrancy into such pot-boilers as Lehar’s Gypsy Fiddles. Founder and principal raconteur of the Ensemble is cellist Justin Pearson who is also artistic director of the Nationl Symphony Orchestra. The music was a varied selection of quite easy listening, mainly by Mozart, Strauss, Vivaldi and Lehar, although all were performed with a freshness and vivacity which belied their clichéd status. Guest soprano ‘the pocket diva’ Annette Wardell took on three solos with clarity and a warmth of expression, including the fiendish Queen of the Night’s aria from the Magic Flute. Other guest soloists included the very talented Irish harpist Jean Kelly and short sequences from a pair of dance champions, Shaun Christie and Emma Munbodhowa, who performed, of course, immaculate waltzes, as well as rhumba and cha cha. Audience participation was a short lollipop which included burst paper bags to emulate the cannons in a truncated '1812' and an encouragement from the soprano to join in ‘Vilia Oh Vilia’. |
| BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM College Players at Brentwood Theatre 18.09.09 Kate Atkinson's first novel transfers remarkably well to the stage: the story of Ruby Lennox and her dysfunctional extended family makes an absorbing drama in Bryony Lavery's adaptation, which was impressively staged at Brentwood by the College Players. Ruby too clever for her own good is guided by her therapist as she revisits her colourful past. Emma Feeney gave a beautifully observed performance in the role funny, and deeply moving in places, she held the narrative together as it leaped the generations and travelled from Whitby [paradise with Auntie Doreen] to Scotland [hell with the Ropers] via the Trenches and the lost property cupboard of the afterlife. There were many more fine performances in a very large cast Dawn Cooke's blowsy Bunty, and Lindsay Hollingsworth's Grandma Nell, ageing 50 years in an instant. Lauren Bracewell's wondrous production had many memorable, moving moments. The ghosts of York crowding the stage, with the tiny lost sister weaving through them, the layers of memory in the shoeless shoe box, the expressionist fire and the climax on the ice. Music and lighting were effectively used to enhance the drama, set against a palimpsest of peeling wallpaper and family photographs. programme design: James Feeney |
| THE MAN WHO WAS HAMLET George Dillon at the Cramphorn 24.09.09 Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, favourite of the Virgin Queen, resident of Hedingham castle. And author of the plays and poems usually attributed to Shakespeare. Or so many of his fans, following the eminent John Thomas Looney, would have us believe. In this fascinating one man show, George Dillon has de Vere come back from the dead to tell his history, pointing up the parallels with the Prince of Denmark, but without explicitly making any claims. The audience are to sit in judgement, it seems, as Edward, like Faustus with one bare hour to live, travels in his mind's eye from Castle Hedingham to Cecil House, from Venice to Verona to Illyria. He paraphrases Hamlet, colourfully insults Sir Philip Sidney on the tennis court, and twice meets the Stratford simpleton who is fit only to hold his horses. We meet Lord Burghley, Arthur Golding, the pope in Rome, George the clown, as well as the Virgin Queen and the 16th Earl, his father, whose death unhinged the boy. A clever conceit, compellingly delivered, with Dillon's clear diction encompassing bleeding chunks of the canon, cod Shakespeare and modern asides. The anachronisms were effective - I was less happy about the solecisms - maybe a script editor ? The piece was directed by Denise Evans, with music by Charlotte Glasson. It may not make Oxfordians of us all, but we may well wonder, with Bernardo, 'Is not this something more than fantasy !. O God! What a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, I leave behind me! In this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my story!' |
| PHOENIX98fm YOUNG CLASSICAL MUSICIAN 2009 at the Brentwood Theatre 26.09.09 Edward Wellman, who presents the Monday classical music show on Phoenix, was master of ceremonies and accompanist for this, their first ever Young Classical Musician competition. The nine finalists we heard made up a varied and entertaining programme. There were three pianists, playing a barely adequate instrument: Sasha Millwood, who gave us a spectacular sequence of Chopin and Rachmaninov, William Church, who followed a poised Bach Prelude and Fugue with a solemn Brahms romance. The youngest pianist, Jack Angell, was in many ways the most engaging, with his brief set of a Bach menuet, a Carnival Elephant and a cheeky Top Cat. Sam Hayday, cornet, played one of those showy variations brass players love, while the overall winner on the night, flautist Sarah Woollatt, from the Ursuline School, played a movement from Reineke\'s Undine. Even Classic FM don't play musical theatre, but for some reason all the vocalists sang numbers written with a big voice and a microphone in mind. By far the most successful was Rosie Bloom, confidently delivering a number from Phantom. A great strength of the evening was the panel of judges - Michael Frith, Benjamin Grosvenor and Philippa Penkett, who gave instant feedback and advice to the young competitors. Breathe, don't be afraid to ham it up, and wear a dress that covers your trembling knees |
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang August 2009 Dunmow Broadcast & Recorder |
| Guys and Dolls March 2009 at the Kings Theatre Julie Petrucci reviews NOMADS’ production of Guys and Dolls in March 2009 at the Kings Theatre. This review first appeared in Combinations, the amateur drama newsletter issued by Combined Actors of Cambridge. Based on Damon Runyon’s short story 'The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown,' Guys and Dolls centres round Nathan Detroit, the organizer of the oldest permanent floating crap game in New York, bets Sky Masterson that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him- this is Miss Sarah Brown of the Save-a-Soul Mission. Meanwhile, Nathan’s long-term fiancée and the main attraction at the Hot Box nightclub – Miss Adelaide, only wants to get married. In the end the gamblers and 'spunky do-gooders' are thrown together and a few changes are made. Never short of talented performers NOMADS fielded a strong team of principals with AMANDA ALDRIDGE as Sarah Brown and JAMIE MAGUIRE as Sky Masterson: excellent empathy between the two led to some good sparky scenes coupled with great acting and singing. TIM McCORMICK made an excellent Nathan Detroit with opposite number CHARLOTTE MARTIN putting in a feisty performance as his long-suffering fiancée Miss Adelaide. Both actors had a great feel for the humour of their roles. ADAM BONNER gave a notable performance as Nicely-Nicely Johnson - good voice and great stage presence and it was good to see Alan Coogan (Harry the Horse) and Wallace Wareham (Arvide Abernathy) treading the boards again after a much too-long-a break for them both. The success of this show depends as much on the male chorus as it does on the principals. NOMADS had a large and talented male chorus for this production and their two major numbers Luck Be A Lady and Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat were excellent. Great voices and confidently executed choreography by Jessica Clifford and Andy Thorpe made these scenes stimulating. The men were balanced nicely by the lively Hot Box Girls with two very energetic numbers A Bushel and a Peck and Take Back Your Mink. Added to this we had the enthusiastic input of the members of the Mission Band rounding off this talented cast nicely. Despite having lost their musical director SIMON PEARCE a couple of days before opening night when he suffered a heart attack (from which, I understand, he is recovering well), the cast pulled out all the stops and did director GAIL BAKER and Simon proud with a great production which played to packed houses all week and deservedly so. |
| The Lady in the Van March 2009 at the ADC Theatre Julie Petrucci reviews BAWDS’ production of The Lady in the Van in March 2009 at the ADC Theatre. This review first appeared in Combinations, the amateur drama newsletter issued by Combined Actors of Cambridge. Not everyone could cope with an eccentric old lady living in a battered van in the drive of their home for fifteen years but that is what writer Alan Bennett did: and he documents his very odd long-term relationship with “Miss Shepherd” and the frustrating and hilarious encounters with neighbours, doctors and the social services in his diaries. Bennett has now turned these anecdotal diary notes into a stage play which I didn’t feel worked as well as I had heard it did. It is probably sacrilegious of me given the great esteem in which Alan Bennett is held by people, myself included, to say it but I personally feel the play is wordy, at times repetitive, and definitely over-long. The evening was saved for me by the way Bawds met the challenge of this play: which they did marvellously well. They provided a visually stunning set with a mesmerising backcloth (painted by students of Anglia Ruskin University’s theatre design course) and a fantastically believable van which even changed colour! (courtesy of Tony Broscomb and the Penguin Club). The lighting, sound and props were excellent and costumes just right. Under Richard People’s firm directorial hand the acting was beyond reproach Barry Brown and Dave Foyle as the two Alans were totally believable and, much of the time, worked as one. In fact Barry Brown gave such a realistic impersonation of Bennett’s voice it was quite spooky. Rosemary Eason was a stunning success as Miss Shepherd: the thought which had gone in to the characterisation and clothing (especially the hats and socks) was impressive. The ten other very minor roles were played with confidence by good strong actors adding to the overall strength of the acting. Whilst there was much to commend from the production point of view sadly, for me, the play itself did not live up to expectations. Visit the BAWDS group record for more information about this group. |
| Rebecca December 2008 at the ADC Theatre Colin McLean reviews BAWDS’ production of Rebecca in December 2008 at the ADC Theatre. This review first appeared in Combinations, the amateur drama newsletter issued by Combined Actors of Cambridge. Few adaptations of famous novels can have enjoyed such immediate and lasting success as Rebecca. With this production BAWDS showed us just how enduring that appeal is, for this was a treat of an evening. This production was very much the sum of its parts for every aspect contributed to its effectiveness and memorability – the strength of the performances, the assured direction, the striking stage design and wardrobe, imaginative lighting and perfectly matched sound, indeed down to individual properties and the programme itself. Attention to detail paying off handsomely indeed. It is worth recalling that two of the principal characters are never seen, namely Rebecca herself, of course, and the sea. In the novel, and here on stage, the sea is a subtly menacing presence and this for me was one of the evening’s triumphs. The play opened strongly, driven in particular by Steph Hamer’s pacy and admirably strident Beatrice Lacy, and we were drawn immediately into the action. Mike Milne, as Giles Lacy, had some richly comic moments (not least of all when dressed for the ball) and David Brown’s Frith was a very well-judged adjunct to the various visitors and comings and goings at Manderley. He seemed perfectly suited to his environs. So too did Alice, Catherine and Robert (Christine Easterfield, Katie Charles and David Hazelhurst); often appearing to be part of the background. Deftly handled. By the time the principals appeared we were very well set in the milieu. Frank Crawley (Colin Laurence) provides a vital link to the Rebecca era at Manderley and his striking performance was etched with wistful memory of happier, easier times. It fell to Angela Chatterton, as the redoubted Mrs Danvers, to bring Manderley’s brooding past into the present, a task she achieved with formidable skill. When Maxim and Mrs (notably bereft of a Christian name) de Winter reach Manderley we are ready for things to be less than easy, and so they prove. Both Julian Cooper and Alexandra Fye made these complex characters, with their shallowly-rooted marriage, come fully to life. Very strong individual performances combining to form a wholly convincing, ill-matched and, surely, fated couple. They both deserve great credit for maintaining our fascination in what is, by modern standards at least, a play that is overlong by perhaps as much as half an hour. The irrepressibly caddish Jack Favell (a gift of a part, duly and admirably seized upon by Guy Holmes) adds a further note of discord to the plot. Hugh Mellor and Rosemary Eason (Colonel and Mrs Julyan) brought their considerable talents to the latter stages of the play – indeed, Colonel Julyan adds to the enigma at the close itself. To what extent he is complicit in any “cover up” is uncertain but may certainly be surmised. Both Sandra Bimie (Mrs Fortescue-Coleman) and Andrew Shepherd (William Tabb) added further assured realism to the storyline and in particular to the denouncement. The deft hand of the director, Lyn Chatterton, was visible throughout and the naturalism and conviction of the story owed huge amounts to her. Once again, a feast for the eye and a triumph of invention too, Tony Broscomb’s set was another huge contributor to this undoubted success. The individual costumes were so well suited to the characters as to be almost taken for granted – the sure sign of lots of very hard work at the planning and execution stages. Further congratulations to Ed Hopkins, Graham Potter and tireless efficient Penguins. What a way to mark the splendidly revamped ADC Theatre. All involved should be reflecting on a very fine close to the BAWDS’ 2008 season - another feather in their cap indeed. Visit the BAWDS group record for more information about this group. |
All Shook Up May 2008 Dunmow Broadcast & Recorder |
Little Bo-Peep Feb 2008 
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| DickWhittington Jan 2008 The Weekly News Review by Michael Gray Always a seasonal treat to travel to Little Waltham for their traditional village panto. And this Dick was one of the best of recent years. Beautifully painted sets, a good band, two classic routines impeccably done, plus ripe rhyming couplets and reality TV, all directed by the sure hand of Susan Butler. A strong cast was led by stalwarts Richard Butler and Gill Haysham. It was a pleasure to watch them work off each other and the volatile matinee house: the front-cloth banter leading up to 'A You're Adorable' was pure magic. Sable Corrie purred and preened inside a wonderful costume as Tommy; her foe King Rat was Mike Lee, also magnificently dressed as a rodent Goth. Steve Buscall blustered nicely as the Captain, with Andy Walker as his first mate. Our level-headed, thigh-slapping hero was Sue Joyce, with Lisa Jones charming as Alice and the inimitable Glyn Jones as her father. And a special word for Karen Wray, promoted from follow-spot to Fairy at four days' notice. I liked the running gags - throwing painful missiles into the wings - though we could have had more groanworthy jokes, and local references. The Weekly News did get a mention, as did sponsors the Rose and Crown, where we had an excellent Sunday lunch before the show. |
| Small Miracle Small Miracle at the Mercury by Neil D’Sonza - June 2007 Six of us went to the Mercury recently and saw the above. Here are two different views of the play. The scene: A rundown caravan park attached to a religious shrine in rural Ireland. The Characters: A dysfunctional ‘family’ consisting of mother and 13 year old daughter – Irish, the mother’s boyfriend – Indian and his elderly mother. Mix in family rows, mysterious phone calls to the dead and a “miracle” which turns the ailing mother into a feisty woman who starts a relationship with the park’s manager, much to the horror of her son. The second Mercury production staged by placing three banks of seats on the stage fitted this space beautifully. The direction and acting were brilliant. I especially loved the music which merged Iris and Indian together and was accompanied by snatches of dances to match. There were funny moments and poignant moments but the play as a whole didn’t work. The ending however was intriguing. After seeing four magnificent productions this was a disappointing end to the season. Mags The title of Neil D’Souza’s play gives nothing away. When I came out at the interval someone asked me ‘What do you think?’ and I had to answer honestly ‘I don’t know’. Indeed, from what we had seen in the first half, the play could as easily been called ‘Family at War’ or ‘The Battle of Cultures’ or ‘Five Characters in Search of a Story’! We had an Irish Janitor of a ‘certain age’ in charge of a site of religious significance and its dreary camping site (for pilgrims of course) in Knock. ‘Holidaying’ there were an Irish mother with her Anglo-Indian boyfriend, who has brought along his indomitable mother and a zany (loony?) daughter (though it was never clear to me whether this was ‘their’ daughter or just ‘her’ daughter). The rebellious teenage daughter is in a world of her own, with her own ‘field of dreams’ and Joan of Arc voices. Her mother wants to get her to a psychoanalyst in Galway. The Anglo-Indian boyfriend is trying to ride the impossible rocky road between pleasing his Irish girlfriend and his Indian mother at the same time. The girlfriend tries to please the Indian mother, but is unable, and no doubt unwilling, to adopt the Indian family values where only the mother can criticise her son! Indian family ties are very strong whereas in English and Irish culture these have become less and less so. So we have mother and daughter (Irish) and mother and son (Indian) culture and religion conflicts. However, to return us to sanity (or is it insanity?) the janitor seems only to be worried about a blocked toilet throughout a good part of the play! Definitely better in the second half, ‘Small Miracles’ was billed as a comedy-drama with a warning of ‘strong language’. Certainly there were ‘laugh aloud’ flashes of humour, sometimes where the ‘strong language’ from an unexpected quarter heightened the humour! It was dramatic at the end - an ending not to be disclosed in case anyone decides to see the production on tour at the Tricycle Theatre in London – however, I don’t think that I will be one of those. I was too mean to buy a programme so I have no idea who the Mercury Theatre Company players were, but was particularly impressed by the Indian mother (who I think may have appeared in the film ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’) and the Irish mother. I loved the ‘postcard’ set (‘Greetings from Knock’) with its working caravan. Marks? Probably five out of ten! JR |
| Haywire Bookshop dreams fade in comedy HAYWIRE, Little Waltham Drama. HAYWIRE, an undemanding comedy from sitcom-meister Eric Chappell, tells the sad tale of Alec [Graham Pipe] who lives over his bookshop, and dreams of romance in Marbella with his glamorous assistant Liz [Sue Walker]. But fate and his family conspire y against him. His aged mother checks her¬self self out of Summer End, his wife buys a needy puppy, his daughter turns up heavily pregnant, his son with crutches and a gangrenous ankle. Mr Pipe did a nice line in manic exasperation, well supported by Sue Walker as his slightly annoying, stridently Sibylline bit of stuff. Wendy Padbury-Clark was his long suffering but suspicious spouse, Adam Joyce his laid-back, smirking son, Lisa Jones his feisty daughter. Some of the loudest laughs went to Sable Corrie as the interfering old body with support stocking and a coarse cackle. Will Maggie catch the bus to the bulb fields? Will Alec make Hay-on-Wye while the sun shines? Whatever happened to raffia? Glyn Jones’s polished production was enthusiastically received by a loyal audience; the crazy climax of the third scene was especially well crafted. Michael Gray - Weekly News |
| The Queen of Hearts Weekly News : Thursday January 25th 2007 “A hearty sing song”Little Waltham Drama Group You can whip through the nursery rhyme plot of “Queen of Hearts” in a couple of minutes, and they did. But John Richardson’s magpie adaptation pinched characters, plotlines and settings from all sorts of pantos, and had his hard-working cast break into song at the least excuse. Amongst the songs broken into were ditties from Dodd, O’Shea and Dubonnet (Wilson, Keppel and Betty not being
available), and the walkabout music this year was Impossible to do justice here to the two dozen named characters, including two game old Phoenix Birds as the Ugly Sisters, two comedy foreigners as the Brokers’ Men, of whom I would have liked to have seen a bit more, and four excellent juveniles who sang a catchy “Friends” number. Gareth Blanks enjoyed himself hugely as a ruddy Captain Hook and Abanazer, duetting memorably with Chrissie Gould’s Twankey. Sable Corrie made a suave Ali Baba, while Margaret Chung was a frustrated fairy. Brian Corrie played the tart-obsessed King with Karen Wray as his Gilbertian Queen, and the dependable Jim Bell as the Knave – not guilty on this occasion. The script had more twists than groans this year, but it was all great fun, and I liked the story-book scenery, and the Murder She Wrote MC detective who just about pulled the plot together. Michael Gray Full Adjudication |
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The Odd Couple - LWDG - Memorial Hall, Little Waltham (27/04/2006) The first thing to say, VERY LOUDLY, is WHAT a difference a good play makes. Little Waltham Drama Group's choice of "The Odd Couple" in the version written for a predominantly female cast, was positively inspired. Although the play actually dates from 1965, and has been re-cycled in various forms over many years, it still stands up as ajolly good evening's entertainment, crackling with wit, humour and human insight, - and what is more the text provides a steady stream of good lines for everyone of the cast. I did harbour some initial doubts about how six women would deal with the American accents, and Simon's very distinctive New York/Jewish brand of fast wise-cracking one-liners, but the moment they opened their mouths I knew they were up to the pace. This was a very enjoyable evening, one of the best I have enjoyed this season,_and my_impressions were confirmed by a happy buzz throughout the full-house audience. Direction was in the hands of Mags Simmonds, who also directed the Group's two previous Spring productions. Here again it was clear that she had paid enormous attention to detail, in the way she grouped the ladies so naturally but yet always with their faces clearly visible to the audience. The Trivial Pursuit game in the first act carried on with the rapport and camaraderie of long custom seemed the most natural occupation in the world as a background to the main action. Each lady was very clearly an individual, and each had plenty of good lines making this a really well balanced ensemble. The arrival of the hysterical hypochondriac Florence was greeted by each of them with a varying if typical reaction. Everything changes after Olive has impulsively offered to share her flat with Florence. Relationships are strained all round, as Florence is clearly irritating everyone. The differing reactions of the six ladies are beautifully handled, from indignation, and plain exasperation, to Florence's air of injured innocence - which of us has not been driven to the brink of murder by someone else's well intentioned fussing. J.W. North West Essex Theatre Guild Full Adjudication Guys & Dolls - CAODS - Civic Theatre, Chelmsford (01/04/2006) What a great musical. It was a pleasure to be reminded of the story and the wonderful songs. Sky Masterton, Miss Sarah, Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. A strong cast, with strong acting, dancing and singing. A temptation by the actors, no doubt under direction, to constantly move around, presumably to fill this glorious stage, did nothing to detract from the fast paced action of this piece, which left the audience, let alone the cast, breathless with the sheer vigour of the performance. Miss Adelaide particularly is to be congratulated on a superb performance. The manner, accent, look, all held throughout the performance to perfection. Another triumph for this most professional amateur group. Peter Travell The Gruffalo - Civic Theatre, Chelmsford Take your children to see this how when it's on near you, that's my advice. A lovely story, a cross between fairy tale and pantomime the cast had the audience (Mums and Dads as well as kids) spellbound. A simple story of an adventurous mouse who braves the deep, dark forest and frightens Fox and Owl with tales of an outlandish imaginery creature called the Gruffalo. Imagine how mouse is surprised when suddenly the Gruffalo appears threatening to eat her for a tasty snack. Good fun, music, song dance and a great story. Peter Travell Robinson Crusoe - Weekly News Review - Little Waltham Pantomime at Little Waltham has a long and honourable tradition. All credit to them, this year, for launching an almost untried cast and a new look. Mind you, many of the old hands were on the production team - not only Producer Glyn Jones and Director Peter Travell, but John Richardson and Kim Markwood too. Rehearsals must have seemed like master classes in the ancient art of panto ... The show was Robinson Crusoe: an anonymous opus, but a long way after De foe. The patchy script had a good few groans, and lots of the old favourites - opening chorus, slapped thighs, Busy Bee. The choreography was economical but very effective - Sailing, for instance, reprised in a lovely stage picture just before the interval, or the hand-to-hand combat. The crew of the Mary Rose included Jim Bell's imposing Captain, and Ken Little's cheeky Kenny Crusoe, in a splendid harlequin-inspired costume. Bill Piggott was a shrill Camilla, but interacted well with the audience and was not shy of attacking the lines. Equally effective was Gareth Blanks as a bombastic pirate. An impressive double act from Sable Corrie and Brian, nicely timed and pitched just right - they had a lovely Red Peppers duet in Act Two. Billie Bond was a strong Principal Boy, with Katie Norris as the object of his affections. And a quick mention for Richard Thomas and Adam Joyce in telling cameos. Richard Langstone was at the keyboard. Michael Gray Beauty and the Beast review - By Alison Woollard - Civic Theatre, Chelmsford Newpalm Productions have once again produced this year's panto at the Civic Theatre. Our reviewer Alison Woollard has been to along to see the show. The Civic's pantomime looks very stylish this year with the clever use of backdrops creating an impressive beast's castle. It's also traditional: Zach Vanderfelt revels in the role of the evil sorcerer and Evelyn McLean provides a spirited and rather bossy good fairy who gets everyone organised. Jenny McGrath is also strong as Beauty and puts more characterisation into this panto heroine than usual. There's the wallpaper slapstick scene and a couple of funny comic songs from the whole cast. The Civic always make good use of the local dancing school and both the teenagers and the tiny tots made the most of their costumes and dances. What makes this show a little different is the actual story because the love between Beauty and the beast is more complicated and takes longer to develop than in most pantos. The love story was sincerely acted and Chris Middlebrook managed to look dignified even in his evil beast costume. Faithful to the traditions of panto and done with style. Cinderella review By Alison Woollard - Harlow Playhouse Cinderella is this year's panto at the Harlow Playhouse. Reviewer Alison Woollard has been to along to the show. Philip Dale and Michael Fentiman have come up with another cracking show. It's got all the traditional elements but plenty of heart and style as well. At two and a half hours it's noticeably shorter than previous Harlow pantos and it zips along at a cracking pace too. What really comes over is the warmth and enjoyment of all the performers from the main characters to the tiniest tot in the dance routines. The costumes are gorgeous, the dancers energetic and precise and the ponies are real. There were lots of inventive touches to keep everyone involved: The good fairy appears in a shower of pink bubbles, the ugly sisters are preceded on their first entrance by a rush of men in boxer shorts scrambling to get away from them and there was a really sweet dance from the children in the chorus dressed up as grannies and performing with their zimmer frames - yes, it is stolen from the current West End production of The Producers, but stolen with wit and warmth. Christmas magic for everyone. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - Cliffs Pavilion - Review by Alison Woollard Husband and wife, Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi, feature as the wicked step-mother and the handsome prince in this years Panto at the Cliffs Pavillion. This production often looks like the Disney film with Snow White wearing the traditional apron and puffy sleeves and the dwarfs' cottage looking just as cute. The lighting and music are similarly glossy and tend to project a 'show biz' atmosphere unlike some of the more individual productions elsewhere in the county. Husband and wife team, Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi feature as the wicked step-mother and the handsome prince. They both give 'star' performances and replace the traditional evil genie and principal boy. Other 'names' in the cast are Gary Beadle and Kev Orkian. There's a lot of business related to their work outside the panto and I was really aware of them being personalities rather than playing actual roles in the story. The mirror works very well as special effect and some of the dancing is excellent. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Cliffs Pavilion - 12th-17th September 2005 What a great show. If you've ever watched the Hollywood film and ever worried about how it could ever translate to the stage, worry no more. This production fills the stage with energy. The dancing and singing is superb. The production numbers simply rip up the stage while the songs are alternately sweet and brash but always brilliantly sung. The only note of concern I had with the entire show was with the stage management, which saw scenery being moved unnecessarily during songs, curtains in the wings being flapped aside by performers. That apart and I know it's picky, the show is one to go and see there's nothing to beat it. Peter Travell An Evening of Swing - Little Waltham Drama Group - Memorial Hall Little Waltham - 20th-23rd July 2005 As the Sammy Cahn song reminds us, you've either got or you haven't got style. Little Waltham troupers have that style in spades and last week's visit to their "Premier Nightclub" was a vintage treat. Rat Pack pics adorned the walls; the stage was a glitzy Fifties bar, all chrome and cocktaol glasses. The music too, took us back with solos, duets, sextets and choruses from the era of radiogram. How well these numbers translate to a choral setting; how we miss the Mike Sammes Singers. Among the highlights were a powerful Mack the Knife, the EmCee and the waitresses hoofing through Putting on the Ritz, an atmospheric version of One for My Baby, and a superb Lady is a tramp from the show's producer, the inimitable June Newman. The quartet in the pit gave strong support, with the all important sax to the fore. It certainly made a change from the Magic of the Musicals and the village audience, seated cafe-style round tables, loved every minute. Michael Gray (Weekly News) Jane Eyre - by Charlotte Bronte adpated by Constance Cox - Palace Theatre Southend - 11th-16th July A super play and a wonderful adaptation of this classic. The whole show literally moves with emotion. The world weary, angry Rochester (Peter Amory) and the innocent but strong Jane Eyre (Sarah Mowat) set the audience simmering with the heat of their emotions. As the story unfolds we see the depth and breadth of character with a whole host of emotions chasing each other across the footlights keeping the audience rapt and spellbound as we first dislike and then feel sympathy for this most dislikeable of gentlemen. But through all his anger and abruptness there is an innate goodness and modesty in Rochester which was shown with remarkable candour should you care to look beyond the facade of the weary, hard done by youngest brother. Jane too starts as a little innocent abroad who would not say boo to a goose but very soon we see her mettle as she stands up to Rochester and earns his respect, much to his surprise. At the end of Act I they confess their love for each other after he has tried unsuccessfully to send her away. The wedding date is set and all is joyful although there is some fearful secret of which Jane is unaware. The mad woman in the West Wing, who made not enough of an appearance in my view, was the fly in the ointment, as she had to be. The sudden appearance of the lawyer Briggs (Bruce Montague) and Mason (Phil Gerrard) put the proverbial 'spanner in the works' and with the marriage abandoned Jane flees in order to preserve their honour. A fire brought about by Rochester's mad wife brings an end to herself and disfigures and maimes him. So he is now free to marry but unable to think of himself any longer as eligible. Jane haunts his every moment he calls out her name in his agony and grief. Across the miles which separate them Jane hears him and returns. She is shocked to find him in such distress and expecting her to refuse he summons his courage and asks her to marry him once again. To his undeniable surprise she agrees and in the final emotional scene he clings to her like a drowning man. This play really is a two hander with not much else going on with the exception of the housekeeper Mrs Fairfax (Katie Evans) who keeps the story moving along filling the gaps and laying out the story in a quiet, serene way. This role is underrated and overlooked but essential to the plot and was played superbly by Katie Evans. Peter Amory and Sarah Mowat are to be congratulated an their performances. They brought such humanity and sincereity to the story that the audience in some cases were hard put not to join them in shedding a tear. Go and see this play when it tours near you. It's well worth the price of the ticket. Peter Travell (LWDG) Daisy Pulls It Off - Bishops Stortford Girls High - 7th-9th July 2005 When it was announced at the end of the show that the cast had only 6 weeks to put this whole show together from start to finish the audience were amazed. What a good show. What confidence these young performers showed. The whole thing from start to finish was simply wonderful. From the girls of the chorus, giving us a simple understanding of the plot line, to the tap and 'hot water bottle' dancers, not forgetting the singers, who had themselves and us in stitches, the production simply burst with energy. The 'actors' were great, the acting and characterisation consistent. Concentration at times slipped here and there with a few cues and ringing of bells missed or delayed but nothing impaired the show itself. Special mention must be made of Daisy Meredith (Phillipa Hogg) who as well as having a horrendous number of lines also showed that she can play piano and sing, a true talent. Her erstwhile sidekick Trixie Martin (Bethanie Mitchell) showed thoughout the presentation at the end of the show, for which she played Master of Ceremonies, that in real life she has the confidence and aplomb that she dispayed on stage in character. One last person to pick out as being immensely larger than life, gving the audience someone to laugh with and applaud with was Mr Scoblowski played by Camilla Akers complete with black beard and moustache. This girl brought the house down. She played the audience like a virtuoso never once coming out of character and with the ability to convey feeling and emotion without words. No easy thing. A very enjoyable evening all round. Well done girls, well done school. I look forward to the next production. Peter Travell (LWDG) Lesley Garret in Concert - Cliffs Pavillion Westcliff - 18th June 2005 Stunning, glamourous with a voice to die for. This sums up the wonderful performance and show put on by Lesley Garrett at The Cliffs Pavillion. Ably backed by The London Symphonia and playing to a packed house she charmed, stirred and shook us until we were left breathless and dizzy with sheer magnificence of her performance. Songs from Opera, from Shows, hymns and music written especially for her. She never failed to move us with her wonderful voice, exercising a level of range and control which left me open mouthed in admiration. Couple all this with her showmanship, her ease with the audience while she regaled us with anecdotes and the stunning costumes, of which there were many, showing off her very shapely figure and we have an evening which no one could argue was anything less than magnificent. Lesley will be touring with the Welsh Opera in a production of The Merry Widow. Don't miss it! Peter Travell (LWDG) Carousel (Rodgers & Hammerstein) - Trinity Methodist Music & Drama - 10th - 14th May 2005 This most enjoyable musical play, full of character with some of the most wonderful songs was staged at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford. The sets were lavish the costumes lush and the music wonderful under the auspices of the Musical Director and Conductor Gerlad Hines The opening of the play left a little to be desired. The overture was set against a backdrop of people at the fair. Unfortunately, it went on a little too long and while the chorus made every effort to entertain with various antics the audience became restless and willed it to end and the story proper to start. Overall the production lacked pace with far too many meaningful silences and gestures that translated into embarrasing pauses where we weren't sure whether a prompt was required. Billy Bigalow (Brian Lovell) lacked the stature and hardness to make a serious fist of the part and his singing voice was sometimes too gentle for the part. However, he made a most complete job of 'My Boy Bill' and in the final scenes the tragedy of his love for his wife and daughter were most poignant. Julie Jordan once again lacked the singing voice for this part, although she played the part most demurely and made a very nice picture with Billy in their scenes together. Deborah Anderson was a convincing Carrie. A fine actress, always in character, with a fine singing voice, very well complemented by her partner Enoch Snow (Derek Lee)whose fine tenor voice made the most of the most wonderful songs. Mrs Mullins played by Jacqui Tear had the most delightful voice, carrying such fine songs as June is Bustin' Out All Over with such style and charisma that we could ignore the sometimes awkward choreography of the chorus and the finale number of You'll Never Walk Alone carried such warmth and emotion that several members of the audience were brushing tears from their eyes. All in all a jolly good show redeemed by some of the best musical numbers to come out of Broadway. Always worth seeing, this show remains one of the best on offer. Peter Travell (LWDG) Pushing aside all superstitions, it being Friday the 13th! Peter, Billie, Karen and I went to see our own Fleshcreep, (Gareth Blanks) in Carousel at the Civic theatre in Chelmsford. Though a little slow in places (not in any scenes with Gareth though!!) costumes and singing were lovely! I resisted temptation to wave a football scarf over my head when they sang You’ll Never Walk Alone! Julie (LWDG) When We Are Married - Stone Street Players A few of us recently supported member Brenda Wilkinson when she appeared as Maria Helliwell in the Stone Street Players production of "When we are Married." They are a Halstead based group and perform in the Empire Theatre, Halstead. We envied them their wide stage and very comfortable theatre seats. Like many amateur groups they experienced a crisis one week before production, a cast member was taken into hospital and someone had to step in to take on the role of Henry Ormoroyd, the photograper. He did a marvelous job even managing to appear on stage without a script. We also noticed that Jayne Tarbun a past member of L.W.D.G. was the prompt. Good to see she's still active in amateur dramatics. June Franzen (LWDG) Season's Greetings - Little Waltham Drama Group - 27th to 30th April 2005 SEASONED WITH GREAT TALENT Alan Ayckbourn’s deceptively simple comedy about a Christmas family gathering is actually a thinly-veiled comentary on a family’s descent into meltdown. In Little Waltham Drama Group’s production, director Mags Simmonds catches the mood and tempo exactly right – a Christmas where all the emotions boil over. She is assisted in this by a talented and disciplined cast. They worked well together to maintain high-octane pace and believable characters.All the key memorable spots were spot on and delivered with great timing, the very funny flying pigs puppet show, the groping under the Christmas tree and the line-up on the stairs. Martin Final is perfect as the zealous old bigot with wild eyes and gun, who shoots the hapless writer, Richard Butler. Jenny Broadway has a superb play, journeying from drunken hypochondriac to alluring femme fatale. Her husband, the failed doctor and puppeteer, is played with earnest forlorness by Mike Lee. Simon Tolliday and Susan Butler are the failed couple, there to make their friends feel good, and the way Susan dealt with the role was real, pathetic and funny. For me Billie Bond as the wife seeking love as an escape from a humdrum existence, really is the business. She captivated the stage whenever she appeared and was the pivot upon which the play turned. Jim Hutchon - Weekly News. Far Pavilions - Shaftesbury Theatre 2005 The Show that Never Was!!! Having read the promotion material for the Far Pavilions, the new West End musical about a British officer and an Indian princess, I was more than happy to make a group booking for 13 on 2nd April! So, there we were, having met in My Old Dutch, the pancake house in Holborn, standing outside the Shaftesbury Theatre, along with a few hundred others, where we were informed that the performance was cancelled as the leading man had been involved in an accident and the understudy was “unable to perform”. Dejected and downhearted some went home, some went off in search of other shows and some went to the cinema. It was an interesting, if surprising evening! Karen Wray (LWDG) |