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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
GOLDEN BOY
Verdict: Profound study of selfishness
Belfast - Lyric Theatre - October 02
Dublin - Pavilion Theatre - October 02
Chelmsford - Civic Theatre - September 02
Leeds - West Yorkshire Playhouse (www.wpy.org.uk) - September 02
A man faces a simple decision: to become a champion boxer or not. On it hinge the fates of the remaining 14 characters - and his own. Because, to become a boxer, he has to throw away his family's ambition for him to become a virtuoso violinist.
The man is Joe Bonaparte, an introvert who systematically destroys every one of the other characters through his unyielding self-interest.
We meet Joe (Philip Bulcock) in the boxing ring at the start. He's fighting the reigning champ, Chocolate Drop (Paul Mushumani). The next scene, where he's a rookie fighter, makes clear that we've just seen an aspect of the end, and the tale's being told in flashback. It's the office of Tom Moody (Neil Sheffield) and his pert mistress Lorna Moon (Christina Anthony). Tom's a boxing promoter in desperate need of a new fighter. Joe's the novice with extreme potential he's persuaded to back, with Tom's associate Roxy Gottlieb (Neil Todd)'s encouragement. Gangster Eddie Fuseli (Daniel Toleri) is hot to buy a piece of the action, and the press (Andrew Byron and Julian Caddy) are on the case.
Trainer Tokio (Thomas Garvey)'s the man who'll mould Joe, taking him on a string of fights in Chicago and New York (other trainer - Andrew Byron; colleague - Julian Caddy; other fighter Pepper White - Sean Garvey). But it breaks the heart of Joe's dad, Poppa Bonaparte (Paul Croft), who's splashed his life savings on a violin for the lad's 21st birthday. Joe's brother Frank Bonaparte (Johan Aksell) looks on as Siggie (Sasha Grunpeter) - who's married their sister Anna Bonaparte (Marie Parker-Shaw) - hopes the money Joe will make will buy Siggie a new taxi. Neighbour Mr Carp (Robert Eliot) alternately makes the peace and stirs things up.
On one level the play's about Joe Bonaparte's greed. He must have everything, whatever the cost to others, including Lorna Moon. He says he loves her, but it's a jealous possession he wants, a total consumption, at the expense of her feelings and those of her lover, Tom.
On another, it's about universal greed. Everyone wants something out of Joe, and cares little if he's destroyed in the process. Everyone, that is, except for Poppa, who alone truly loves him.
The play follows Joe through the year of 1936 to 1937, from the start of his boxing career to the climactic fight with Chocolate Drop and its dramatic consequences. The full significance and depth of the disturbing ending are not revealed by the fight shown at the start. The action focuses on the principal dramas within the play - the destruction of Joe's home-life; Lorna's love for Joe and Tom; Tom's battle for business supremacy; Joe's conflict within himself as he rises to power. Although Joe ('Golden Boy') is central to the plot - there would be no story without him - the play is perhaps more about the other characters, and the effect of his actions on them, particularly Tom, Lorna, and Poppa.
Tom Moody is the principal focus of the action, as the man who will make Joe. Neil Sheffield's warm and human performance, renders him a tough but profound man, who will bleed if cut. Sheffield's Moody is externally robust, but uncertain of himself. He's an ambiguous character, and Sheffield clarifies this by making him vaguely lovable - he's someone we can readily care about. Tom's not ruthless, there is too much of the decent man within him, but he's ready to ride the bandwaggon - up to a point.
Lorna Moon, superbly played by Christina Anthony raunchily adjusting her suspender through her skirt, is close to Tom and Joe, in both the love of them, and the need. Their actions crucially affect her, and hers them. She is locked into each stitch of the story, and very much into its end. Anthony gives her the emotional depth and vibrant sex-appeal necessary to convince in this complex role.
Poppa Bonaparte, played by Paul Croft with a gentle and moving steadfastness, is the moral rock upon which the play is founded. Poppa isn't given to long speeches, but each word he utters comes from his clear perception of the truth, and with a wisdom that strikes to the heart. Croft plays the part with absolute conviction, and delivers a performance that can truly be described as great.
Philip Bulcock is excellent as Joe, playing him straight down the line as a complete bastard. It's a towering performance by a remarkable actor who fully perceives the layered complexity of Joe's unpleasant character and lays him bare to us. This is a character it would be easy to play as a bone-headed stereotype. Bulcock resists the temptation, delves deep into Bonaparte's components, and creates a fine, well-rounded monster.
Johan Aksell gives a superbly stoic brother Frank. Andrew Byron's a fine dead-pan trainer and volatile press-man. Julian Caddy is superb as the side-kick and journalist. Robert Eliot is very funny as philosophising Mr Carp, and rousing as a boxing barker.
Thomas Garvey delivers a fabulous performance as honest Tokio, the trainer who makes Joe the fighter he becomes. Tokio's vision is narrow, he's a simple man - in Thomas Garvey's clearly-focused interpretation - and a good man, too. Within his own terms, he is as honourable as Poppa, and Thomas Garvey brings this out clearly in his portrayal. In his own way, he loves Joe, and cares for his present and future.
Sean Garvey shows a fine comedic talent as Pepper White, an unhygienic and pompous fighter. Sasha Grunpeter as Siggie is fast-talking, funny and convincing. Paul Mushumani portrays the non-speaking and essential part of Chocolate Drop with remarkable precision. He uses dance movements elegantly and effectively to portray this pivotal character in a way that is both a delight to watch and haunting. Marie Parker-Shaw is excellent as the quirky and headstrong Anna Bonaparte, not sure quite what kind of a wife to Siggie she wants to be, but voluble about it.
Neil Todd is a fine delight as Roxy Gottlieb. Loud-mouthed, and essentially venal and cowardly, Todd's Gottlieb rages about the stage, provided Eddie Fuseli's not too near. Todd finds the comic in Gottlieb and plays it just so far - enough for us to notice, not too much to destroy the balance of malice - it's a finely-judged and effective performance. Daniel Toleri delivers an Eddie Fuseli svelte with menace and loaded with power. It's a superb portrayal, and every time Toleri's Fuseli enters the stage, the room chills.
Isabel Lynch makes well-judged decisions in her direction of Golden Boy. It's a sprawling play from the far end of a different century. She grabs it by the scruff and delivers an entertainment with sparkling resonances to the power and love struggles of contemporary life.
Cast (alpha order): Johan Aksell - Frank Bonaparte. Christina Anthony - Lorna Moon. Philip Bulcock - Joe Bonaparte. Andrew Byron - Mickey / Drake. Julian Caddy - Lewis / Driscoll. Paul Croft - Mr Bonaparte ('Poppa'). Robert Eliot - Mr Carp / Barker. Thomas Garvey - Tokio. Sean Garvey - Pepper White. Sasha Grunpeter - Siggie. Paul Mushumani - Chocolate Drop. Marie Parker-Shaw - Anna Bonaparte. Neil Sheffield - Tom Moody. Neil Todd - Roxy Gottlieb. Daniel Toleri - Eddie Fuseli.
Director - Isabel Lynch. Set Designer - John Risbero provides sets which subtly complement the action. Lighting Designer - Trevor Wallace provides a fine set of lighting decisions. Head of Lighting Design (Tour) - Will Evans battled manfully at Chelmsford Civic Theatre to overcome power surges from the local grid.
Fight Director - Mark Burdett produces fight choreography that's symbolic as well as real, giving elegance and depth to this complex story. Sound Designer - Dan Last produces a superb sound-scape, including well-sampled and chosen music that sets the mood to each scene. Company Stage Manager - Fiona Hamilton. Writer - Clifford Odets. Producer - Patrick Lynch. Company - Broadway Theatre Company.
END
John Park
reviewed Wednesday 25 September 02 / Chelmsford Civic Theatre
related topic - for details of the 1939 film of Golden Boy, search International Movie Database under 'Golden Boy'
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
