AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Flamingoland - Bolton Little Theatre, Bolton.

I have always had a great affection for Bolton Little Theatre's intimate 3-sided performance space known as The Forge Theatre. Seating about 70 audience members on two rows this black-box space works excellently for certain productions. 

Their latest play, 'Flamingoland' by Deborah McAndrew works well in this space. The curiously titled 'Flamingoland' tells the story of Mari (Lindsay Farnworth), a no-nonsense Yorkshire lass who seems obsessed with her own mortality and planning her wake, down the very last detail, with her long-suffering spinster daughter Kathleen (Catherine Cropper), and the sometimes visits from her more brusque and brash older sister Bridie (Catherine Henderson), and her would-be rebel (and also single) daughter, Sadie  (Emily Hill). Mari is dying, that much seems clear, and she is getting her house in order, boxing everything up, getting rid of the furniture, and finally getting round to sorting out the vermin problem she has with squirrels in her attic.

McAndrew's script sparkles. It is excellently written, with not a single word out of place or unnecessary, and under Carol Butler's direction this afternoon, the dramatic elements of the script, the pathos, was delivered with sincerity and aplomb. The lighter, comedic sections (of which there were many, especially in the first two acts), were sadly not highlighted perhaps as well as they should have been, and were given too much of a fatalistic dramatic approach. Sadly this had the effect of lessening the impact of the more cathartic moments in the third and fourth acts, as the play was not as dynamically satisfying as perhaps it should and could have been. 

However, the actors themselves gave much to their roles this afternoon, and delivered performances which were truthful, believable, and sympathetic. Lindsay Farnworth's journey as Mari was excellently measured. Her failing body becoming weaker with her every entrance, as her determination to organise her wake increased. Whilst her sister, Bridie was suitably annoying and irritating. Catherine Cropper's Kathleen was professional, uptight, reserved, holding back... until her cathartic moment arrives in the final act, and she handled this with genuineness and accuracy, proving her versatility as an actress. Sadie (Emily Hill) too, although a smaller role than Kathleen, has a large journey to take in her scenes, and here Hill chose to use her controlled facial expressions well to balance the physicality of Henderson. 

There is a fifth cast member too. Dave. Played this afternoon by Adam Green. The environmental health warden who is exterminating the squirrels. Green portrayed him as a simple, down-to-earth man who doesn't ask much from life, is pleasant and kind to all, and has conflicting emotions about the ethics of his job. 

The set (due to the space  restrictions) was minimal. A plain back wall - where paintings had been taken down, an old sofa, and an occasional table. A few boxes on the floor. However, for this reviewer at least, the start of the play did not have anywhere near enough clutter, and Mari wasn't given enough 'business' and so this semi-miming with the boxes did look rather false sadly.

There is also a substantial part of the plot which I have deliberately not mentioned, but that part is the core of the play and I don't want to give anything away. However, suffice to say that it was handled nicely, and - thanks to McAndrew's writing - still leaves the audience with a little question mark  at the end. Oh, and talking of the end; I don't know if this was scripted or directorial, but the last action (after the bows) was  stroke of genius!

This was mu first visit to The Forge Theatre at Bolton Little Theatre in a  long time, and it was lovely to be back. BLT nurture a bunch of talented amateurs and this afternoon's production was no exception. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 21.5.23