In these days of cut-backs (especially in the arts) any new Welsh theatre company should be welcomed and supported. For their first production " BareKnuckle Theatre" chose the audience friendly " A Midsummer Night's Dream". Founded to " take the performance out if performing" they surfaced at the non-actor friendly Gate Theatre. Being an ex-church the acoustics are notoriously poor which penalizes fast speakers and and any action at the back of the stage.
However, " A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a comedy and the success of a production is measured on it's ability to make any audience laugh. Fortunately, director Simon Riordan (interestingly doubling up as director Peter Quince - not to mention his involvement with props/ fight choreography and poster design) knew how to get maximum humour out of the play.
The pace always quickened with the appearance of the young lovers, who were equally adept at the amusing word-play and broad physical comedy. Praise must also go to the " rude mechanicals " with James Carew continuing the tradition of virtually stealing the show with his " Bottom".
Any comedy wants an audience leaving with happy smiles on their faces. With confusions over and all lovers rightly matched an unexpectedly stylish all-singing, all-dancing version of " All You Need Is Love" was the perfect way to achieve this.
An impressive debut from this new company. Hopefully when they perform " Twelfth Night" next January they willl choose a better venue.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Death and the Monster - Chapter Arts Centre - Cardiff - 25th June 2010
For their eagerly awaited 2nd production "Inky Quill productions" found themselves in the impressive surroundings of the Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.
Local comic Dan Mitchell set the tone with a short set which got a packed audience laughing constantly. Making it clear that he wasn't the play he won the crowd over with strong material from his life, " Specileptic" perfectly summing up his eye-sight and medical condition. (Those wishing to see more of this comedian should see his play " Dan Mitchell .. And The Killer Is? at Chapter next month).
Continuing their worthy ideal of bringing unpretentious theatre and comedy to the masses, Rick Allden's latest play did what it said on the tin. " Death and the Monster" followed the exploits of eminent surgeon Tobias Flavian and his faithful assistant Colin as they travelled to Inverness to investigate the supposed capture of the Loch Ness monster.
A talented cast ( including most of Inky Quills & their ever-growing repertory company) took full advantage of a funny script to ensure that one big laugh followed another. For a company at the beginning of its life, the production values were particularly impressive. The macabre yet humorous tone was immediately set by Jon Holcroft's music, with a screen brilliantly used to convey the Scottish setting and horror element of the tale. Basically, an excuse to show plenty of
Susan Boyle photos.
Definitely, a play and a company worthy of a wider audience.
Local comic Dan Mitchell set the tone with a short set which got a packed audience laughing constantly. Making it clear that he wasn't the play he won the crowd over with strong material from his life, " Specileptic" perfectly summing up his eye-sight and medical condition. (Those wishing to see more of this comedian should see his play " Dan Mitchell .. And The Killer Is? at Chapter next month).
Continuing their worthy ideal of bringing unpretentious theatre and comedy to the masses, Rick Allden's latest play did what it said on the tin. " Death and the Monster" followed the exploits of eminent surgeon Tobias Flavian and his faithful assistant Colin as they travelled to Inverness to investigate the supposed capture of the Loch Ness monster.
A talented cast ( including most of Inky Quills & their ever-growing repertory company) took full advantage of a funny script to ensure that one big laugh followed another. For a company at the beginning of its life, the production values were particularly impressive. The macabre yet humorous tone was immediately set by Jon Holcroft's music, with a screen brilliantly used to convey the Scottish setting and horror element of the tale. Basically, an excuse to show plenty of
Susan Boyle photos.
Definitely, a play and a company worthy of a wider audience.
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