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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Semblance of Madness
Verdict: Who's mad?
How ruthlessly pretty blonde-haired Dawn Bishop gets bullied by arts teacher Margaret Jones - but that's red-heads for you, fiery tempers - and in MJ's case, a bit mad? Dark-haired Hannah Corbin's ready to intervene if MJ's bullying gets too extreme. Hair colour's all that differentiates them at first - their clothes are identically white. Welcome to their world - it's enclosed, for their safety and ours. It's a psychiatric hospital and one of them's a murderer, but each of them says she's sane.
Semblance of Madness is a highly entertaining hour-long play with 3 gifted performances. It's a subtle piece of writing by John H Newmeir - though the speeches direct to the audience damage the dramatic tension and pace of the play - with intrigue and mystery locked into the drama. 'Margaret Jones' impersonates or becomes an impressive list of characters in addition to her own - or is it her own? - but that's well-covered within the logic of the story by her ostensible role as drama teacher. There's a mystery concealed in the plot, and the play works effectively towards its revelation.
Kathryn 0'Reilly delivers a gifted and sometimes electric performance as Margaret Jones. Jo Arber imbues victim-status into Dawn Bishop with relentless and subtle effectiveness. Toni Darlow makes a supple bridge of characterisation between the extremes of these two parts.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Jo Arber as Dawn Bishop. Toni Darlow as Hannah Corbin. Kathryn 0'Reilly as Margaret Jones.
Company Credits: Director - Nic Paris. Producers - Kathryn O'Reilly, Toni Darlow. Writer - John H Newmeir. Company - TK Productions. Thanks to: David Pinto, Paul Moretti & www.kopykat.co.uk, Joe O'Reilly, David Bidmead (Etcetera Theatre), Simon & Sean (ENO), Lisa Cheale, Gemma Bodley.
Venue Credits: Etcetera Theatre: Management: It's Alright For Some - Zena Barrie & Michelle Flower. The Etcetera Theatre has been supported by the Foundation For Sport & The Arts, and by Camden Arts & Leisure.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 29 January 04 / Etcetera Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
