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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
END OF STORY
Verdict: Ooh la la! Un-tamed shrew loose in Chelsea.
London - Chelsea Theatre - Nov-Dec 02
Here's a play about nasty old Lili - grandma, drunk and mental child-abuser. We watch her gnaw, hound and destroy her marriage (the end of a 25-year hell for long-suffering, weak, insurance-selling Marco). We witness the start of her contamination of her trusting grand-daughter. We're shown the evidence of her defective genes in divorced, manipulative, micro-affair-indulging daughter Cécile.
It's Lili's play, and the delightful Tricia Thorns delivers a sublime performance - what a monster! Martyn Whitby's an excellent foil as Marco, reasonable to the limit of endurance - a finely-tuned performance. Amber Batty has the exact measure of Cécile, and presents her to perfection.
Little grand-daughter Zoë is played by three actors in rotation, and on this night a breathtaking performance was provided by one of Amber Baverstock, or Casi Toye, or Diane Trayling. With most small adults staying up all night selling crack-cocaine, it's nice to see some respectably employed on the stage (though there are still plenty of chimneys to be cleaned).
End of Story's well-acted, directed, cast, costumed, lit, translated (from French: it's set in Paris), produced and written. There's an excellent 20 or 30 minute play in it. The present version runs at 90 minutes.
The play doesn't say anything new. We all know a Lili or two, and Shakespeare knew her first. Marcos aren't thin on the ground either. It's not a revelation that children replicate their parents' characteristics; nor that a child torn between parents is manipulative. Cut short, ruthlessly, and focused to make a point, End of Story could be dynamite.
Cast Credits: (adults, alpha order): Amber Batty - Cécile.
Tricia Thorns - Lili. Martyn Whitby - Marco. (children, alpha order): Zoë played by:
Amber Baverstock, or Casi Toye, or Diane Trayling.
Cast Credits: (programme order): Director - John Joe Turner. Designers -
Rosalind Cowley, Nicole Curtis. Lighting - Jon Primrose. Stage Managers -
Marie Costa, Jo Nield. Casting - Toby Whale. Press and Marketing -
Guy Chapman Associates. Publicity Photography - Phil Gammon. Production - Two's Company.
Producer - Graham Cowley. Translator - Graham Cowley. Writer - Véronique Olmi
Chelsea Theatre Credits: (programme order): Artistic Director - Francis Alexander.
General Manager - Alex McGowan. Literary Associate - Tony Craze. Literary Officer -
Greg Reiner.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 18 November 02 / Chelsea Theatre London
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
