I still have yet to watch this Juliette Towhidi / Tim Firth film of the same name... maybe one day! Until then, I shall continue to watch the live theatre versions that keep cropping up all over the place. I have now seen the musical version several times, but until this evening had never seen it as a play. Presented by SAMT (Sale And Altrincham Musical Theatre) at Altrincham's Little Theatre, the play does not pack the same punch as the musical does, and even if the storyline remains basically the same [there are some quite significant differences between musical and play], the emotional drive and gritty realism of the musical seems lacking in the play.
That's not to say it isn't there, and it doesn't mean the play isn't enjoyable, but it does mean, in this reviewer's opinion at least, that the play is less dramatic, less emotive, and therefore packs less of a punch than the musical. And that's a shame, since this play was presented by a society that prides itself on their musical theatre productions.
This evening the stage had a single composite set used throughout regardless of location, which made it a little more difficult to follow and not as visually stimulating as it perhaps could have been. However, the back wall had a painting of the Yorkshire Dales in all their scenic glory, behind a very uncharacteristic stone wall [why wasn't it a dry stone wall?]. Either side of this were the walls of the community centre that is used as the base for the WI meetings, and this was decorated appropriately.
The story surrounds the famous, and very real event, of a Yorkshire WI paying tribute to the husband of one of their members who tragically died of cancer, by producing a tasteful nude calendar of their members to raise money for cancer research and the hospital where he was treated. The story has humour, heart, and in this play version, the dialogue is very much down-to-earth and naturalistic. It is almost as if we are flies on the wall, listening in to their banter and chit-chat. Credit here to director Martyn Preston for making it thus.
The play has a very weak and uninspiring start, as the ladies try out a yoga class in silence and no humour; but once they start to speak and the energy levels pick up, then the pace and the banter flow well, and the characters truly come into their own.
Jenny Hollinshead plays Annie, the lady who struggles looking after her husband as he deteriorates from fit and healthy to wheelchair bound, and, along with her best friend Chris (Rachel Barrington), hatch the plan for the calendar and wheedle the other members to help them in their quest to raise funds for the disease. Chris, however, soon gets a little carried away with all the publicity and fame that this creates, and, after a subtle reminder from Annie, realises that she was being self-centred and not considering the reasons why it all started in the first place. Hollinshead and Barrington had a good rapport with each other and their friendship seemed very real.
Supporting them as other WI members - all with their own characteristics and personalities - were Jessie (Rosalind Ford), Cora (Alison Gould), Celia (Jane Philpott), Ruth (Rosarie Walsh), and Marie (Helen Blythe). Again these ladies worked well together and brought about a very realistic and disparate group of Northern lasses (and yes, before anyone pulls me up.. Cheshire is also in the north!)
Stuart Sephton played Annie's husband, John, who made a remarkably empathetic and realistic change and his wheelchair scene was very moving. Other characters were played by Paul Rendel (Rod), Phil Callaghan (Lawrence and Liam), and Janice Rendel (Lady Cravenshire). Again, all three strong actors who brought much to their roles and the play in general.
Martyn Preston's direction was, at times, a little slow, especially in the scene changes, and I thought the choice of ambient music throughout to be a little strange at times, not really marrying with the feel of a WI despite the lyrics being perhaps apt. However, Preston found a good balance between the comedy and the more tragic scenes, and had a good understanding of the narrative drive and the overall arc of the play, delivering a very watchable and good-humoured production which was given a standing ovation on it's opening night this evening.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 28.3.23
on - 28.3.23
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