Continuing NK Theatre Arts’ 30th anniversary celebrations and season they have now produced this concept rock musical based on the iconic 70s album of the same name by Pink Floyd. I’d only ever heard the title track from my childhood and was therefore unsure of the content, themes and the music. The show is a surreal narrative, almost entirely music with snatches of dialogue and depicts the troubled life and experiences of the fictitious character ‘Pink’ whose trials and ordeals construct ‘The Wall’. Each brick in the wall being a representation of a tragedy or momentous event or period. The physical wall on stage is completed by the end of Act 1. The plot is a looking back on Pink’s troubled existence through flashbacks showing his difficult upbringing, overbearing mother, his father’s death, his negative experiences at school, his rise to fame, alcohol and substance abuse and then his abusive relationships with women.
NK Theatre Arts originally performed this show in 2014 to capacity audiences which resulted in an invitation to perform a one night only performance at the Palace Theatre in May 2015 receiving rave reviews and critical acclaim.
A simple and yet stunning staging of a live band atop ‘The Wall’ on scaffolding was visually impressive and the lighting was very effective and well used with the rock colours of blues and deep purples and reds. The band was outstanding throughout. I did not expect to be able to hear the score through a six piece rock group but the balance of the sound and the vocals was super. The singing and sound was clear and the lyrics came through clear and strong. What a joy to hear a live rock band. You could feel the vibrations at times.
Excellent performances all round from the leads and from the ensemble who supported fabulously with passion, great singing and enthusiasm and love for the piece. Chris Saxon as ‘Pink’ lived and breathed the tortured and agonised character and the hallucinating asylum sequence of ‘Comfortably Numb’ was very powerful. His overbearing and controlling mother was Louise Shufflebottom and what a powerhouse set of vocals she had! Another big shout-out to Hannah Gorst who has a fine set of pipes also on her, as the Dr in the mental institution.
The bedroom scene where Pink took a seductive groupie home – played beautifully by Emily Tushingham- just didn’t work for me. I really do think it needs a rethink – chiefly the setting of the bedroom furniture and guitars. It was messy and jarred the whole scene. I think there should have been a cross fade from the front with more vamping to mask the changes. Maybe it was just first night glitches but it clattered against what was otherwise a very slick show.
The show was a delight to watch as an audience member if you love avant garde and contemporary theatre – realism it wasn’t. I am really happy that I didn’t bring my son as the show is littered with violence towards women – plot driven – but was an uncomfortable watch. The themes are violent and aggressive. As we watched Pink’s wife commit adultery with a lover which was well choreographed and stylised until the poetic dance turned to threat, violence and abuse.
Every incident that caused Pink pain is yet another brick in his ever-growing, metaphorical ‘wall’. This number, in three parts, was really well done and a joy to watch where the young Pink rebels against the educational system. A fabulous musical number by the whole cast.
In act 2 we see Pink work his way through his demons, eventually putting himself on ‘trial’. Pink's tale ended with a message of a hopeful journey of metaphorical death and rebirth that finally breaks down his wall. The trial scene was my absolute favourite scene. The stylised puppetry dance and reactions in the court scene were so well executed again by all the ensemble as the marionetted. I’ll bet that took some rehearsing!
I loved the show - clumsy set change aside- as it was overflowing with talent, energy, enthusiasm and ensemble work which is a key signature of this group’s work. Congratulations to the director Kerry Day and her vision for such a unique concept. The band and MD and their wonderful energy playing all night was overwhelmingly good. I might even download some Pink Floyd music now!
Reviewer - Kathryn Gorton
on - 26/9/18
Pete Curren director
ReplyDeleteDawn wrigley director*
ReplyDeleteDawn Wrigley Choreographed Ben Taylor was MD
ReplyDeleteDominic Stannage was Band Leader and it was Conceived and Produced by Pete Curran. Thanks for the fabulous crit,yes the one scene change was miss-timed on on opening night. Its fine now. My input waa minimal on this occasion for this great production. Kerry Day