The Story of Vasco is a play in six tableaux - very much in the continental tradition. It feels as if director Adam Barnard has worked hard to create a drama which fully exploits theatre-in-the-round - birds appear on the balcony, sentries march behind the audience. He makes a coherent whole from a drama in which many characters emerge, which can be followed with interest and amusement. All the characters have dreamlike qualities; it's a world of symbol and metaphor, which is often the substance of poetry. Music by Peter Michaels also plays an important role. Its humming, beat-y quality evokes mid-European gypsy music, and gives scene-changes a sense of circus. In doing so, they become integral to the drama.

Richard O'Callaghan (Caesar) - as the father of a girl who, in a dream, falls in love a barber, Vasco (Jonathan Broadbent) - has to carry a lot of weight as the consistent factor throughout most of the scenes. Almost without exception he does this splendidly. Laura Rees, as wide-eyed daughter Marguerite, manages to convey the simplicity and charm of love's bewitchment throughout a long and interesting performance.

The Story of Vasco is a dreamy meditation on the nature of war and its futility. Vasco the barber is chosen for a task which others have failed to accomplish. He makes progress towards the goal simply because of his innocence. While everyone else is caught up in assumptions that something must be done, he unknowingly does it. While others want heroism, his goal is simply to do his job. Meanwhile, crows look down - fed by the death and destruction.

It is a play which admirers of the late Ted Hughes may love. Others may find it a challenge, though it still has many qualities. It's long, but holds attention. That is largely due to the skilful and careful marshalling of resources by director Adam Barnard - and to the playing, which often has presence beyond the script. It is charming. While it is entertaining, it doesn't maybe add a great deal to ideas about the nature of politics and the use of force, or about duty and heroism - except perhaps that the latter can be a chimera.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Tobias Beer - Mrs Hillborn / Sergeant / Hans / Berberis / Gregory. Robert Benfield - Troppo / Sentry / Braun / General/Fritz. Jonathan Broadbent - Vasco. Richard Heap - Rondo / Mirador / Paraz / General / Kranz. Michael Kirk - Corfan / Sentry / Latour / Caquot / Aldo. Richard O'Callaghan - Caesar. Laura Rees - Marguerite. William Tapley - September/Alexander/General

Company Credits: Writer of Histoire de Vasco (1956) - Georges Schehadé (1910-89). Translator, adapter - Ted Hughes (1930-1998). Director - Adam Barnard. Designer - Sean Dowson. Music - Peter Michaels. Lighting Designer - John Harris. Sound Designer - uncredited. Assistant Director - David Siebert. Stage Manager - Stuart Burgess. Deputy Stage Manager - Sophie Acreman. Assistant Stage Manager - Becky Flisher. Technician - Leanne Simmonds. Technician - Dan Staniforth. Producer - uncredited. Company - uncredited.

Orange Tree Theatre Credits: Administrative Director - Gillian Thorpe. Front of House Manager - Derek Lamden. Box Office Supervisor - Hayley Williams. Financial Controller - Joan Frost. Education Officer and Casting Assistant - Ruth O'Dowd. Fundraising Officer - Alex Jones. Press & Marketing Officer - Meg Dobson. Education Assistant - Stevie Boreham. Administrative Assistant - Georgia Hicks. Box Office Assistant - Vicky Flood. Box Office Assistant - Mark Oosterveen. Stage Manager - Stuart Burgess. Stage Management - Sophie Acreman. Stage Management - Rebecca Flisher. Stage Management - Leanne Simmonds. Stage Management - Dan Staniforth. Resident Designer - Sam Dowson. Wardrobe - Stevie Boreham. Trainee Director - Andy Brunskill. Trainee Director - David Siebert. Literary, Education and Community - Katie Henry. Youth Theatre Leader - Henry Bell. Audio Describer - Veronika Hyks. Bar Staff - Francesca Clark. Bar Staff - Sam Marks. Bar Staff - Patrick Meahan. Bar Staff - Jackie Pankhurst. Bar Staff - Michael Thorpe. Bar Staff - Miriam Wetherall. Bar Staff - Angelica Wilson. Bar Staff - Francesca Wilson. Artistic Director - Sam Walters. (Orange Tree credits source: www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk - 30 March 09)

END

(c) Michael Spring 2009

reviewed Friday 27 March 2009 / The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, Surrey, UK

Notes about the play: The Story of Vasco was originally written in French as Histoire de Vasco (1956) by Lebanese Surrealist poet and dramatist Georges Schehadé (1910-89). It was translated, adapted and extended by British poet Ted Hughes (1930-1998) in the late 1960s. Ted Hughes wrote the libretto for the opera version, with music by Gordon Crosse (b 1937, Op 29, 1974), which Sadler's Wells Opera premièred in 1974 at the Coliseum Theatre, London. This is the first production of the 'rediscovered' original text by Ted Hughes. (Sources: http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/64080.html; http://www.answers.com/topic/georges-schehad; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Crosse; all at 30 March 2009.)

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

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