Blood from Stone is set in a museum after the guide and his tour party leave - and the inhabitants come to life. The statues use the passages and galleries as their playground, until one night their world is shattered by an intruder who has sneaked away from the rest of the tour group to seek revenge. Ffion Williams, who plays The Bust, sits in a box with just her head and shoulders on show for the whole of the performance. Emily Jukes gives She - half of the statue Man and His Lover - a beguiling innocence. Her singing is gentle, and unfortunately is occasionally drowned by the music. The statue of Daedalus (father of Icarus and designer of the labyrinth for King Minos) is played by Bradley Minchin.

Stacia McKee as Salome does a good impression of the spoilt princess when Salome's best friend, the statue Archer (Tom Oakley), confides in her about his love for She. Guy Dorey plays He, the Man, the abusive partner of She. His performance lacks conviction and finesse. There is some amusing dialogue between the Tour Guide (Thomas Chambers) and the intruder, Faith (Eleanor Williams).

Blood from Stone is a combination of music, song and physical theatre. The cast struggle to pull off this complicated piece of theatre. There are nine scenes, but there is no clear delineation between them. Sometimes the songs are drowned out by the music. A production that lasts for an hour and a half (without an interval) has to be special. This is not. There is very little emotion within the writing, some of the performances are wooden, and the musical aspect is less than perfect - with discordant harmonies and flat notes.

Cast: (alpha order): Thomas Chambers – Tour Guide. Guy Dorey – He / Voice of King Minos. Emily Jukes - She / Voice of Icarus. Stacia McKee – Salome / Voice of Hera. Bradley Minchin – Daedalus. Tom Oakley – Archer. Eleanor Williams – Faith. Ffion Williams – Bust / Voice of Pasiphae.

Band: Dan Avery – clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophone. Nick Long / Steve Moult – trumpet. Erica Reed / Ed Bussey – piano. Fenner Curtis – violin and percussion. Dan James / Kirsty Holt – cello.

Company: Books & Lyrics – Catherine McDonald. Music & Orchestration – Erica Reed. Additional Music – Catherine McDonald. Directors – Lucy Amsden, Rosie Storr. Musical Director – Erica Reed. Vocal Director – Catherine McDonald. Choreographer – Emily Jukes. Costume – Catherine Colbourne. Lighting – Chris Patton. Stage Manager – Nick Renshaw. Assistant Producer – Nick Renshaw. Producer – Tom Oakley. Company - Through the Window Theatre. www.throughthewindowtheatre.com

END

(c) Lea Harris 2007

reviewed day August 07 / C too

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008