Workshopped, devised, and performed by The Royal Court Theatre's Youth Theatre, their summer production this year is, 'Dream Team', a story about the inhabitants of Happy Valley - a place where everyone is happy and they all live the catalogue-perfect lifestyles and have the perfect life; that is, until, The Sandman mysteriously disappears, and the children, due to lack of sleep, start turning against their parents in scenes that could have been taken from 'Children Of The Corn'. Thank goodness for Dr Morpheus and his bedtime milk solution!
The stage was bare, and the only set was created by a huge screen filling the whole back wall, upon which computer generated images were shown. The large cast (55 in all) ranged in age from preteen to late teens (I would imagine), as the adult characters were taken by the older members, and the children were, well, the children!
The show itself was an odd affair, obviously utilising the students' individual talents, but the style /genre was forever-changing and thus obfuscated the storyline and the characterisations. The first ten minutes of the show was presented entirely in dance (with some simplistic mime), until this idea suddenly stopped and we were watching a comedy play, as humorous dialogue ensued; in turn this turned ever camper and ever mono-dimensional, meaning that the characterisations of the cast needed to change from rounded, quasi-realistic portrayals to mono-dimensional OTT ridiculous cardboard cut-out caricatures. - The continual and high-pitched screeching and screams from the cast every time they were scared or jumped was most annoying however! We were now watching a quasi-pantomime! By the end of the first act however we had strayed into Musical Theatre territory, as Ilaria, the Fairy of Sleep (?) sang a solo most competently. The whole was 'narrated' by a male voice-over speaking in Jamaican patois...why, I have no idea, but this had no relevance to the English inhabitants of Happy Valley. The dancing (and acrobatics) was executed well and enjoyable, and the dialogue was punchy and highly humorous; but some of the cast did not know how to deliver such dialogue, sadly letting most of the humour and the jokes fall flat and miss their targets. More rehearsal / training was required in this area.
Clearly, this large cast had worked extremely hard to bring about this show, giving 100% the whole time, and performing as they had been directed to do so. They were obviously enjoying themselves immensely too, which is, one has to admit, half the battle! The show was too long though. A one-hour presentation more solidly crafted would have been more preferable.
In all honesty, I would have enjoyed the presentation on stage far more if this afternoon's audience had followed the rules and etiquettes of being an audience member. Adults were on mobile phones, adults were chatting (loudly) and laughing with their children throughout; children were talking, restless, and making noises throughout; comestibles were being consumed and drunk throughout, and the noise from one particular group nearby was so loud I had to cough loudly to try and shush them... to no avail! Most rude and inconsiderate. As I left the auditorium, the detritus left on the floor was unbelievable! Popcorn, wrappers, sweets, drink cartons, plastic glasses, and goodness knows what else on the floors and on the seats! Bravo to the young cast on stage for carrying on despite the audience!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 30.8.23
It was amazing kids done fantastic with just 3 weeks to learn there parts my daughter who is 10 was part of the show and I was so impressed wit her. The staff put all there time and effort in to a great show. Would love to go watch it again
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