This was my first visit to not only Bingley Arts Centre, but also the delightful town of Bingley itself! Both town and theatre proved to be a most positive surprise, and the welcoming theatre is much larger and better equipped inside than the rather uninspiring exterior belies.
I had come to see a production of a Kander and Ebb musical which, even if you are a musicals fan, might well have passed you by, and for good reason... it is hardly ever produced this side of the Atlantic. In my many years as a thespian and theatregoer, this is the first UK production of the musical I have ever seen. Forget Cabaret! Forget Chicago! They might well have been written by the same team, but this is a different kettle of fish altogether. Namely, 'The Rink'.
'The Rink' tells the story, not of the dilapidated and due-to-be-demolished roller skating rink on an East Coast pier, but of the family who owned it and lived there. Told in a intermingling of contemporary time and flashback, we learn about the Italian American Dino and his family, the young girl foolishly besotted by him that she couldn't see that marrying him would become a disaster, we see her, she is called Anna, grow into a feisty and hardened wife and mother, and we see her little girl grow from child with dreams to a shadow of her mother, drifting on the tide trying to find meaning and security in her life. We learn that she has lost the love of her life who left her pregnant, and that she had returned home in the hope of finding solace and a place to stay. It is both heartwarming and heartwrenching, and the second act does not skim on pathos. And all the time the demolition men are in the building making their final preparations before countdown.
The set was excellently dressed. We were shown a part of the rink itself with doors, offices etc off in both directions, whilst faded sign posts, lights which didn't quite work bright enough, and walls missing their plaster decorated the perimeter. The carnival style coloured lights on string above the stage was a lovely touch. In fact the lighting design and execution thereof this evening was excellent.
The pivotal and leading role of Anna (Mrs. A), was taken by Katrina Woods, who was a strong and commanding presence, and her all round triple threat ability made the role and her character all the more powerful. Woods managed to capture many of the more subtle nuances within the script and delivered a fully rounded, believable, and flawed human being with attitude and heart. Her daughter, Angel, was played by Danni Peek, who again, proved to be another multi talented and faceted actress, and made the perfect "double act" with Woods. Their duet, 'The Apple Doesn't Fall', was one of the show's highlights.
The cast completes with a group of six strong men.. not only are they the demolition men who have come to tear down the Rink, but they also play many other roles too between them from Anna's no-good-nick husband, Dino, to dragging up as a young prostitute, and lots of other things in between. My favourite moments from this male team came with two songs in the first act 'After All These Years', and 'What Happened To The Old Days'. And of course we must not forget the showstopping crowdpleaser, 'The Rink' in act 2!
And finally we must mention and credit the role of a young girl, she is Angel as a young child in the flashbacks, but then in the contemporary time she is Angel's daughter. This role is split between two youngsters during the show's run, and they are Cleo Dawson and Mia Rookes. Congratulations to both if them.
A live band under the direction of Ian Sapiro was hidden somewhere out of sight, but sounded wonderful all evening, delivering just the right timbre and texture. Sound levels were perfect throughout, and costuming etc, were all in keeping with both period and place.
Director David Kirk has done a sterling job with producing a piece of theatre which has both humour and tragedy in equal measure, pathos and mercilessness, and was able to leave you with a lump in your throat as act two's denouement is played out. Neither did he shy away from attacking the adult themes in the play head on, Bravo. The arc of the production was excellent and character development and exposition perfect.
Singing and dancing was also of a high standard throughout too. My only one slight (and I mean slight) criticism would be that perhaps a little more training in roller skating wouldn't go amiss.
A most enjoyable visit to Bingley and their Little Theatre company resident at The Arts Centre. I look forward to being able to come along again next season.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 3.7.23
We would love to have you back!
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