Reviews

Play On

THERE seems to be a fashion at the moment for ‘plays within a play’ and P&P, who decided against their original choice of Calendar Girls when they learned how many other local companies would be performing it this season, are consequently very much in fashion with this production.

Still Life With Songs

“WHAT was your Inspiration for this show?” I ask Stewart Barlow on first time of meeting him at the end of his brilliant self-penned Revue, Still Life With Songs.“That’s an interesting question”. He stalls for time to think. This show is a follow on from “Tales of The Hour Glass”, both of which have been a departure from the Jazz and Easy Listening shows he has produced in the past.

The House By The Lake

WITH respect, All Saints Dramatic Society really knows how to pull in the punters.  For a second night, and close to 400 in, they obviously know their audience.  I wouldn’t strictly call it a theatrical event, more like a social club.  However, much kudos, it works for them.

Miss Saigon School Edition

BOUBLIL and Schoenberg’s Miss Saigon, which is of course based on Puccini’s Madam Butterfly, is a powerful, deeply moving story of war, love and loss that should leave its audience emotionally drained. This outstanding production, directed by Albert Brown with choreography by Angie Broomfield, does exactly that.

Autumn Concert

WHAT a pity that more people did not support this absolutely first-class concert, which was surely the jewel in the crown of the many Silhouette charity fund-raisers that Jon & Victoria Andrew have held over the years.

Hello, Is There Any Body There?

THE programme notes for this production state that ‘this hilarious mad-cap play steadfastly refuses to take itself (or anything else) seriously.’ That really tells you all you need to know, and it certainly does what it says on the label, but I did feel a necessity to remonstrate with the director during the interval.

Plays 'n' Chips

IN any normal job, and in the world of professional theatre, there is usually a period of training. In amateur theatre that luxury is denied to most people, so if they are lucky enough to be cast in a production, whether acting, doing sound and lighting, prompting, writing or even directing, the results of their efforts, good or bad, will all too soon be witnessed by the paying public - and with even the smallest shows these days costing mega bucks to produce, it’s a big risk.

Calendar Girls

SWANAGE is perhaps not usually the kind of place one might expect to see naked ladies performing on stage and yet, as I sit here waiting for curtain up, that is exactly what lies ahead!

Another Evening With The Humour Of Bob Newhart & Tom Lehrer

I’VE long been a fan of Tom Lehrer’s wonderfully satirical songs but only came upon Bob Newhart’s comedic monologues a couple of years ago, when a friend played me one of his LPs. Since both Americans are now in their 80s I doubt that many in this country have ever seen them performing live, learning to love them instead from their recordings, from shows like Tomfoolery or perhaps from a tribute-type evening such as this.

Funny Money

AUGUST in a seaside resort – what could possibly be on at the town’s theatre other than a farce? And Director Pat Jones has gone for the best in her choice of a play by Ray Cooney, the most successful farceur since Ben Travers. Funny Money has all his trademarks of confusion, breakneck pace, witty lines and a smattering of smut. Until it falls away badly in the second half, it is a well-constructed plot with plenty of opportunities for actors to show the skill and energy which, more than any other theatrical genre, farce demands. Farce looks easy to play but in fact is incredibly difficult: timing, in both speaking and moving, is critical; keeping up a fast pace is essential, but without speaking across each other’s lines or across laughs; physical movement and facial expressions must be slightly caricatured yet at the same time natural; the actor must have the confidence that comes from a thorough knowledge of his or her lines and movements.

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