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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
King's Head Directors' Showcase
Verdict: Five short dramas
Five directors showcase their work, each directing a short drama.
GBS
Brothers Rich and Sam spar. It's a play heavy with topics: incurably dying father, weight issues, geographical separation, fraternal loathing, family secrets, car-repair sodomy. Set against reality TV, there's nothing new in it, but writer Jason Hall's dialogue is sometimes sharp - it would benefit from a ruthless edit of verbal and plot clichés to hone this. It's gamely acted by Robert Ashe (Rich, the plumper brother) and Anthony Shuster (Sam, the slimmer brother). Director Pia Furtado makes the best of the script, with a keen eye for what's strong in it. There's a lively spark to her direction.
Credits. Director - Pia Furtado. Cast (alpha order): Robert Ashe - Rich. Anthony Shuster - Sam. Crew: Jason Hall - Writer.
PURGATORY
Three men meet - most likely in Ireland from the accents. There's been a fire in the past when a father was killed, and it looks as if the bastard son is about to repeat history. Probably one for fans of Yeats. Jamie Griffith-Jones (Presence), Richard Keightley (Old Man), Lyndon Ogbourne (Boy) do their best with the elderly script, providing fine acting. Stewart Melton is a gifted director - getting some movement out of this fairly leaden piece shows that clearly - and it would be intriguing to see him let loose on something new and exciting. Otherwise he's doomed to a career in the National Theatre.
Credits. Director - Stewart Melton. Cast (alpha order): Jamie Griffith-Jones - Presence. Richard Keightley - Old Man. Lyndon Ogbourne - Boy. Crew: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) - Writer
GAUDEAMUS
Campus monologue. Either heroine Lynette Baker grinds a predictable American axe about prejudice in sex for 20 minutes - or it's a brilliant satire on self-absorbed, self-satisfied American whingeing. Chipo Chung is frenetic in delivery as Lynette Baker, ambiguously either playing the character straight or parodying her. Director Michael Longhurst teases with Peter J Morris's script - maintaining the knife-edge of whether or not it's laughing behind the character's back.
Credits. Director - Michael Longhurst. Cast (alpha order): Chipo Chung - Lynette Baker. Crew: Peter J Morris - Writer.
SILENCE
There's a young woman, a man of perhaps her father's age, and another a little older than herself. Harold Pinter's monologues for each character suggest relationships between them, and possible abuse. The play may not be particularly absorbing - Pinter enthusiasts may disagree - but the acting and direction are superb. They succeed in spite of the play in creating vivid theatre.
Eloise Emanuel shows real directorial élan in her staging, casting, and composition. The three actors face the audience, alongside 3 TV sets which show different and intriguing films of the characters, the action on screen directly linked to that on stage.
Her selection of actors and composition is striking. A fine-looking older man Stephen Ley (Rumsey) and younger man David Hepple (Bates) both combine in their stage appearance rugged good looks with a seediness that borders on danger.
Together, in a composition immediately suggesting Michaelangelo or Leonardo, the two men frame Rebecca Pownall (Ellen), her pretty russet hair tumbling in flowing curls like an abandoned Renaissance Madonna - one of great beauty, and profound sadness.
These three highly talented actors each deliver superb performances. Eloise Emanuel's fine understanding of visual impact and originality in direction creates a piece of delight - even from Pinter.
Credits. Director - Eloise Emanuel. Cast (alpha order): David Hepple - Bates. Stephen Ley - Rumsey. Rebecca Pownall - Ellen. Crew: Harold Pinter - Writer.
CAN'T SLEEP CLOWNS WILL EAT ME
It's a stag night. The groom (writer Adrian Sellars) is wearing a white rabbit suit and he's been chained to a lamp-post. The best man (Jamie Treacher) is chained with him. With hours to go to the wedding, what will happen?
Not much this evening. It's a slow-moving piece, with occasional flashes of fun or insight into the human condition (yes, they're sobering up).
Can't Sleep Clowns Will Eat Me has two fine actors (one of which is the writer) and a gifted director. At present the play's a mixed bag, mainly a Samuel Beckett bag - and some may feel that one Waiting For Godot is enough. It's a piece in development, so could stay as the present mix of ironic humour and reflections on mortality. Or it could evolve into a comedy or tragedy, to take two examples. But the writer needs to decide exactly what kind of play it is.
Jemma Gross directs with grace, finding and emphasising both the comedy and the underlying drama. Her feeling for the flow of the piece allows her to see and implement what best can at present be done with a piece in development. A play at this stage is a often a directors' toughest job. Jemma Gross handles the challenge with perception, style, and gifted artistic imagination.
Credits. Director - Jemma Gross. Cast (alpha order): Adrian Sellars. Jamie Treacher. Crew: Adrian Sellars - Writer. Set Designer - Louise Kay. Lighting Designer - Adam Burns.
CREDITS OVERALL (alpha order): Andy Dawson - Lights and Sound. Georgina Freeman - Lights and Sound.
THANKS (programme order): Dan Crawford. Adam Burns. Ninon Jerome & Kevin Durjun. Alan Villiers. Cheryl. Jason Hall. Peter Morris. Adrian Sellars. Samuel French. The Yeats Estate. Dori Valerie & Queensland Multimedia. Anna Marie at The Washington. Sonia Lyndon & Sarah at Ice & Fire. Nina Lyndon and Ola Animashawum at The Royal Court. The Gate Theatre. Drama Studio London. The Oval House Theatre. All at Honeywood Farm. Lyndsay Roberts and Elayce Ismail. Ryan. Jonathan Stathem. Steph Harrop. Jen, Carolyn and Richard Burraston. Chris Stokes.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 31 January 05 / King's Head Theatre, Islington
(c) Fringe Report 2005
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
