home
|
about
|
news
|
contents
|
gossip
|
photographs
|
venues
|
brighton
|
dublin
|
edinburgh
|
film
|
features
|
interviews
|
awards
|
fashion
|
recipes
|
easter monday drinks 5 april 2010
|
newsletter
|
links
|
contact
MOST POPULAR LINKS... FRONT PAGE... MONTHLY DRINKS NIGHT
Camarilla
Verdict: Rugged study of bombing civilians
London - The Old Red Lion - October 03
29 Sep - 25 Oct 03 (not Mondays) 8pm
Camarilla looks at the two arguments about bombing civilians in London - terrorism, or effective action? It's also about the tug and contrast between political belief and family ties. It goes on for around 70 minutes.
David Abeles plays David Crystal, who left England as a lad when his dad shagged a fellow-activist and destroyed their family. He's a calm, well-balanced, humorous and altogether reasonable American (this is fiction, after all). He's back on a sudden, unexplained visit from America. His stepmother - the scarlet woman in his mum's eyes, now married to his dad - is cross.
David Farrington plays wishy-washy trades unionist John Allthorpe, adulterous father of David. John Allthorpe's a down-trodden man, flattened under a dominating marital partner, his political principles flapping limply to the prevailing wind. But his love and compassion for his wife, stepdaughter, and son, is fairly strong.
Lois Norman is Professor Margaret-Ann Tanner, who dominates the story - and the lives of the other characters. She's an uncompromising intellectual wedded to non-violent action and the democratic process. She loves her political principles and daughter about equally - it's the balance between these that creates the axis of the play.
Caroline O'Kerr is Rebekah Tanner Burton, the daughter of Professor Tanner, and unrelated step-sister to David Crystal. The most subtle character in the play, she's truly an enigma, while seeming to be open. She's in public relations, for architects and designers. She's fond of mother and stepfather. The arrival of her grown-up and sexy step-brother's something she welcomes with open arms (among other limbs).
Camarilla starts with the bombing of a store in Bond Street. Professor Tanner and her daughter Rebekah are caught in in, but not injured. Still shaken from the near-loss of her child, Professor Tanner is irritated to find that husband John Allthorpe's son David Crystal is coming to stay. There's unfinished business between step-mum and step-son, of an unusual nature.
And rampant lust between step-brother David and step-sister Rebekah. There's airing of dirty laundry all round, and bickering between Professor Tanner and husband about the strength of their political principles. And there's the G8 conference opening in Docklands. Where should Professor Tanner be: on the picket line, or at the rostrum?
Camarilla's an interesting entertainment. It's a well-plotted piece of drama, with a strong cast. Each cast member invests her and his part with conviction and subtlety. If the first three quarters of an hour at times passes slowly, and the dialogue occasionally doesn't ring true, these minor points are trounced by a climax that is clever and unexpected, with a series of compounding revelations and a fine denouement.
Camarilla follows two fine plays in London on similar themes. The Madness of George Dubya looks at the invasion of Iraq, using satire (it's an update of Dr Strangelove) and humour to make its points. Troop covers a similar theme to Camarilla: it sets the political principles of its central character against her personal loyalties.
Van Badham may sound like the pipe-smoking villain from a Dutch B-movie, but the Van came from Vanessa, and she's the sparky writer behind a clutch of plays. Nominally Australian, she lives in London. Camarilla bristles with the acute perception of British politics at which Australian intellectuals (Clive James, Germaine Greer, Barry Humphries) seem unfairly gifted. The ebullient Van Badham is a member of Nabokov, an energetic drama production company formed when she and others attended Sheffield University. Named after a man unafraid to take artistic risks, it aims to do the same.
Cast Credits (alpha order): David Abeles (as David Crystal, and Charles Ashe). David Farrington (as John Allthorpe). Lois Norman (as Professor Margaret-Ann Tanner). Caroline O'Kerr (as Rebekah Tanner Burton).
Company Credits:
Director - George Perrin. Producer - James Grieve. Production Manager - Ric Mountjoy. Stage Manager - Paul Jellis. Assistant Stage Manager - Bertie Gollop. Assistant Director - Sam Grafton. Designer - Stefanie Rhodes. Lighting Designer - Ric Mountjoy. Sound Designer - Lee Wilson. Company Manager - Amy Holland. Writer - Van Badham. Company - Nabokov.
Acknowledgements: Van Badham. Damien Devine. Mel Tait. Maxine Morrison. Old Red Lion Theatre: John, Steve. C Venues: Hartley TA Kemp, Zena Barrie, Sheridan Humphries, and all staff. Festival Fringe Society: Martin Reynolds. JB. Rob Hemus. Andy Dancer. Phillippa Welfare. Itchy Feet Theatre. Always Awkward Productions. Justgiving.com: all staff. Sally Proctor. Andy Tandy. Piers Proctor, Maggie Proctor. Robert Grieve, Linda Grieve. The Old Red Lion Theatre New Writing Exchange.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 2 October 03 / The Old Red Lion
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010
