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THE STAGE Review
Confusions
October 9-18
Leathethead Theatre
Author: Alan Ayckbourn
Directors: Susan Franklyn, James
Apted, Claire Malcomson, Kenneth
Michaels, Sally McCormack
Producers: Sally McCormack,
Claire Malcomson
Cast included: Susan Franklyn,
Lisa Bowerman, Tim Faraday, Ortis,
Angus Kennedy, Mark Kempner
Running time: 2hrs 2Omins
Pigeons that took up residence at Thorndike theatre when it went dark some six years
ago are now all evicted and Stage Right Productions has become the resident theatre
company at Leatherhead with five directors and 20 actors providing an entertaining
performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s Confusions.
Written as five playlets, Gosforth’s Fete came over as the most rousing of them,
portraying the hassles of putting on that most English of events, the annual summer
fete. Mark Kempner played the fete organiser Gosforth, complete with a loud hailer
maintaining amazing equanimity as everything went wrong in a massive
thunderstorm. He put tremendous vitality into the hopeless situations, well hacked up
by the drunken scoutmaster hilariously played by Dominic Casenove. A stupid vicar
was caricatured by Robert Cann, while the tea lady, acted by Susannah Halicroft, and
the fete opener Claire Carroll added to the fun.
A Talk in the Park, about the boredom of hearing other people’s troubles, was played
out in all seriousness by Harold Saks, Naomi Robinson, Alan Halley, Sally
McCormack and Jarnie Kenna.
Between Mouthfuls, written in Ayckbourn’s inimitable style of two concurrent
conversations, was amiably performed by Michael McEvoy, Claire Carroll, Elliot Hill
and Victoria Walker, with Ortis timing the lines of the waiter to perfection.
Mother Figure opened the programme — with Susan Franklyn (Mother), Lisa
Bowerman (Rosemary) and Tim Faraday (Terry) — and Drinking Companions was
delightful too as a travelling salesman, played by Angus Kennedy, chats up a couple
of birds acted by Nansi Hywel-Davies and Claire Malcomson.
Peter Tatlow
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THE STAGE Review
The Taming of the Shrew
There is nothing quite like a warm summer evening, within the old battlements of an English
castle, to enjoy the delights of Shakespeare. On this occasion it was actually a cold July night in
Hampshire but thanks to the impressive Groundlings Theatre Company everyone left with the
warm glow of satisfaction.
This quite brilliant production is directed by Claire Wardle. The company brings a refreshing
glow to Shakespeare, making it much more accessible and enjoyable. The group of young actors
works hard and their obvious talents and enthusiasm radiate from the very first minute, so that
the entertainment never slackens. This exquisite production proves there is enormous fun to be
had in the Bard’s work. The team work is exceptional, superbly presenting the classic tale.
Aubrey Woodruff is visually electrifying as Kate, although for her final speech the audience
had to strain to catch every word, one of the hazards of an outside location at 10.30pm. There
were other glowing performances from Robert Cann as Lucentio and James Lavender as Tranio,
who work well together. Jon De Ville is a swarthy and impressive Petruchio and Paul Lancaster
as Biandello and Grumio is a real crowd pleaser - his scenes are eagerly anticipated. Other
memorable performances come from Peter McCrohon (Hortensio/Pedant) and Ralph Mondi
(Gremio /Vincentio). Emma Lucas as Bianco, Tim Molyneux as Baptista and Helen Oakleigh’s
Widow also contribute much to this quite brilliant interpretation.
John Hannam
Monday 19 July 2004 09:55 AM
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Porchester Castle , July 7-9, then touring
Author: William Shakespeare
Director:
Claire Wardle
Producer:
Groundlings Theatre Company Cast includes:
Aubrey Woodruff, Jon De Ville, Robert Cann, Paul Lancaster, Emma Lucas Running time:
2hrs 45mins
Production information can change over the run of the show
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DOUBLE AL FRESCO TREAT FOR BARD LOVERS
Groundling Theatre Company actors perform The Taming of the Shrew
at Carisbrooke Castle. Picture by JENNIFER BURTON
WATCHING staged performances of two of Shakespeare’s classic plays
helped a large and enthusiastic audience round off their al fresco meals in
style at Carisbrooke Castle last Friday evening.
Different aspects of love, mixed into comedy situations, were explored when
the Groundlings Theatre Company performed The Taming of the Shrew and
As You Like It to a packed audience which picnicked in the atmospheric castle
grounds.
The professional cast provided a lively, well-paced interpretation of the plays
— both of which were enjoyed by an audience of more than 200 people.
Directed by Claire Wardle, The Taming of the Shrew — a study of the chaotic,
inverted roles of husband and wife in Elizabethan times — featured Jon De
Ville in the role of Petruchio and Aubrey Woodruff as Katherina, well received
by the picnicking throngs.
Director Claire Wardle turned actor for the popular As You Like It, with the
accomplished Aubrey Woodruff and Robert Cann taking the roles of Celia and
Orlando.
Richard Hurdle, who appeared in the Oscar-winning movie Gladiator,
produced the two plays and formed Groundlings Theatre Company, one of the
largest open-air Shakespearean touring companies in the UK, in 2000.
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Cinderella
On Stage Right wrote in several new characters for Cinderella, with a girlfriend to
give Buttons a happy ending and a villainous stepmother joining the ugly sisters
to make things even worse for Cinders. King Cupcake appears and Father
Christmas himself turns up at the ball.
Sally McCormack’s script realises all that and more to very good effect even
though some of the scenes are a trifle verbose for the children. As director she
assembled a capable cast with Robert Cann a good entertainer and lovable
Buttons and Claire Malcomson (Dandini) and Tania Foley (Charming) strutting
around in good old principal girl tradition.
They all sing very well, as did Victoria Stedford as a cheerful Cinders. Ian
Ganderton and Paul Morse were splendid comedians as the Ugly Sisters, with well
delivered lines and good timing and Claire Carroll made a venomous stepmother.
Amy Ryan as Buttons’ girlfriend Ember and Diane Grayson as Fairy Godmother
were also excellent singers.
Whatever the variations the show passed the acid test - the children loved it.
Peter Tatlow
RUN SHEET
15 Dec 2004 - 1 Jan 05
Issue No 58
March 2005
WINDLESHAM SCHOOL NEWS
www.windleshamschool.co.uk
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The Young Shakespeare Company
These talented young actors visited years 4 to 6 for a memorable afternoon’s
performance of Romeo and Juliet. This was not merely a sit-and-watch event,
however; the children were given parts in the play and took part in discussions about
how and why things were happening. As a result, the children derived a huge
amount from the play, and came away with a genuine appreciation of the story. As
an example, here is a typical response from one of the children who saw the
production:
“I thought that ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was fabulous. The way they both spoke was
fantastic. The language they spoke was Shakespearean. The play was very realistic. It
was extremely emotional and very moving. As one of the audience I forgot who I was
and really felt I was living their moment with them. William Shakespeare is such an
amazing creative writer. It is so hard to imagine what he was thinking when he started
to write the book. William Shakespeare has really inspired me.” Lauren Cole, 4F
Dick Whittington The Leatherhead Theatre, Leatherhead
Reviewed by John Frayn Turner
SALLY McCormack wrote and directed this professional production for Matrix Theatre, and
her imaginative ideas led our legendary hero further afield than the traditional road from
York to London. Here he is allowed to make a major diversion via the Port of London to the
shores of Morocco and back, before winning final fame and love.
In fact, the whole company of 10, plus the dancers, accompanied Dick on his adventurous
voyage. I liked the way that each one of the cast confronted the challenge of playing to a
small preview audience, as well as other vicissitudes inherent in any stage show! It was a
reliable reflection on their efforts that the children all seemed engrossed and engulfed right
from the start. When one of the cast asked the audience, "Why didn't you say that to me
in the first place?" a small girl actually cried out, "We did!".
I also admired the way that each of the players were introduced separately and clearly,
helpful for audiences and reviewers alike. Although a pantomime is an ensemble affair,
each actor sought to extract the maximum from both the material and character
portrayed.
The cleverest piece of stage business was by Adam Scott and Robert Cann (as ship's first
mate and Idle Jack). To a variation on the song The Twelve Days Of Christmas, they had
to perform a dozen different tasks on the deck of the ship at an ever-increasing pace.
Amusing moments were scattered throughout the show, but the main musical groupings
stood out for me. Captain Fever was one of these, sung and danced all aboard the vessel
when Morocco-bound. Remember the Crosby-Hope line? 'Like Webster's dictionary, we're
Morocco-bound.'
Hula Rock And Roll was another good number and Stanhope Owen almost stole the music
side in this one, as an Elvis-type Sultan singing in Presley-lookalike style. It reminded me
of that anachronistic rock sequence in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
An all-cast finale chorus sealed a happy ending.
Simon Gross, well-known for his appearance on Hell's Kitchen, was tirelessly enthusiastic
as Sarah the Cook, while the quintessential good-and-evil elements were balanced nicely
by Catherine Millson (Fairy Bow Bells) and Claire Malcomson (a mean Queen Rat). The
elegant Tania Foley filled the traditional principal boy role of Dick, who won the love of
Alice, played by Anna Lawson. Tania had an agreeable singing voice, too.
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Georgia Cardy created a stylishly camp and contemporary cat and participated in one of
the best songs, Friendship, with Robert Cann. David Lenson made a creditable and credible
ship's captain, while Claire Malcomson enjoyed her tango number, Hernando's Hideaway.
It was a change from the more purist pantomime, and on balance, the cast of troupers
brought it off entertainingly. Dick Whittington runs until Friday January 6. Tickets,
priced £15 for adults and £12 for children and concessions, are available on
01372 365141.
Time of My Life
Alan Ayckbourn has the knack of portraying real life characters in real life situations which
amazingly can often generate laughter rather than tears. Such is the case when Laura
celebrates her 54th birthday in a Mediterranean style restaurant in the North of England.
Rachel Bell is superb as the kind of mother-in-law anyone would dread having, leaving no
doubt as to who wears the trousers in her family. Robert Cann as her favourite younger son
and a would be poet, stands no chance of pleasing her with his choice of a mate, a punk
hairdresser, who disgraces herself by throwing up in the middle of the celebration supper.
Lindsay Fraser, with blonde hair dyed a dull brown for the occasion, captures the sheer terror
of meeting her boyfriend’s family for the first time.
Jack Sandle as the womanising eldest son and Karen Ascoe, as his long suffering wife, give
convincing performances, as does Laura’s husband Gerry, a self made businessman played by
Robert Austin. He is completely at home in an Ayckbourn play having worked with the author
on numerous occasions both in Scarborough and the West End.
Ayckbourn’s use of the present followed by excerpts from past and future excursions to the
restaurant gives an overall picture of the family problems and all credit to Stuart Fox who
plays the owner and all four of the waiters, including the singing variety. A role taken in the
original production of Time of My Life, by director Terence Booth.
Production information
By:
Alan Ayckbourn
Management:
Mill at Sonning
Cast:
Karen Ascoe, Robert Austin, Rachel Bell, Robert Cann, Stuart Fox, Lindsay fraser,
Jack Sandle
Director:
Terence Booth
Design:
Dinah England
Lighting:
Janet A Cantrill
Costumes:
Jane Kidd
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
Mill Sonning June 20-July 29
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