Each year, the second year students of Arden's Musical Theatre course are tasked with devising, writing, and performing their own musical. This class is a large one, and consists mainly of females, but when given a completely free rein, finding a story and characters to suit shouldn't have been a problem for them. The world premiere production of their new musical, 'Beyond The Line' took place at the school's own Waterside Theatre in Manchester, and is a one-act semi-socio-political comedy set both at a railway station and on board various trains.
The stage is set as a station platform, a series of chairs on a rostrum at the rear of the stage representing the train, whilst the forestage the station itself. Simple but effective. And when the train starts to journey, projections of countryside passing by are screened behind them. Lighting and sound worked well mainly, however, during at least two of the songs, when individual lines were being sung, it was almost impossible to pick out the soloists here due to a lack of spotlighting. I believe one of the keyboards was played by one of the tutors, whilst all other instruments were played by members of the company when required.
There was no linear stoyline, in fact, the show was a string of unconnected vignettes, the only connection between them being they were all set in either a station or on a train. The irritations, connections, thoughts, and actions of a whole array of train passengers. We therefore watched twenty-plus small playlets or musical scenes - each of which delightful in its own way - but as a whole rather unsatisfying since there was nothing to hold them together, and we had no character or story for us to invest our energies or interest into.
Some of the sketches were monologues ['Pigeons' by Anya Carragher was sincere and emotive, whilst 'Welsh Wales' by Poppy Levy was amusing]. Some were short acted interludes, but the majority were songs. I am not certain I have the titles of the songs, but for me the most successful were 'Opera Del Caffe', a comedy song about coffee; a solo ballad sung by a female artist as she paints the passers-by (title unknown), and a duet much nearer the end of the show where they daren't kiss in public as they are lesbians and one leaves the other on the train to go to an audition. (again, title unknown)... sorry, I tried to follow then in the programme but got a bit lost!
Full credit though to the whole class. This was a truly ensemble effort, with students writing the lyrics, composing (and playing) the music, directing the vignettes and even choreographing the dances themsleves.
This 75-minute romp is a heart-felt but slightly tongue-in-cheek message to all who use trains; we've all been in similar situations where other passengers' behaviour has irritated or annoyed. But most of us, because we are British, sit in silence and endure it - rarely if ever do we get the chance to write a musical and literally make and song and dance about it!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 31.3.22
on - 31.3.22
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