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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Tales of the Thames
Verdict: Thames, songs, stories, drama, puppetry
Mikron Theatre Company's musical drama Tales of the Thames delves into the historical significance of the River Thames through a mixture of song, physical theatre, puppetry and dramatic dialogue. In a moment before the beginning of the show, there is a glimpse into the informality of the company's approach. One of the actors strolls across the stage to greet people in the audience he seems to recognise, replacing the conventional divide with a sense of cheery communality.
The set is simple and works. Three door-sized canvases, set a metre apart, are stretched over frames made of scaffolding poles. On each of the dusk-blue canvases is painted a view of lit windows in distant houses, as if looking at the populated banks of the Thames from the centre of the river at night. As well as providing an atmospheric backdrop, the four actors use these canvases as screens to conceal themselves between scenes. On the left of the stage is the bow of a blue, wooden rowing boat. On the right is an exercise bike with basket and horn to give the appearance of an old-fashioned pushbike. Both become vessels to carry the characters on their journeys. The first part of the show sets a quirky tone. Uncle Itchy (Adrian Palmer) - named, he says, from the bottom you get when sitting in a boat for long periods - is introduced through a monologue addressed partly to the audience, partly to Sockie, a sock puppet. Later, it becomes clear that Uncle Itchy is obsessed with personifying inanimate objects, including his bicycle horn and a bicycle inner tube (called Tyrone). Roly (George Chalmers) - Itchy's nephew - works with his uncle as a boat builder. Roly's relationship with his girlfriend Em (Gemma Ryan) is dire. They decide to go on a journey together to the source of the Thames. Itchy decides to recover his estranged lover, Stella (Rachel Cartwright). Throughout the journey, the characters use river magic - taking them to various eras, from Oliver Cromwell's 17th Century to the twisting 1950s. During each transition, the actors use wigs, beards, glasses, accents and costumes to present an array of characters. The characters use song and dialogue to tell fragments of Thames history. Rachel Cartwright, George Chalmers, Adrian Palmer, Gemma Ryan form the highly-versatile cast. Throughout the piece, each grabs an instrument and strums, blows, tinkles or sings. Songs range from rousing four-piece folk tunes with banjos and flutes, to solo ballads with acoustic guitar. Sound effects form an integral part of the show and are played by the cast on a keyboard. The writer is Richard Povall, and it's directed by Vashi MacLachlan. Music and lyrics are by Jim Woodland, with musical direction by Rebekah Hughes.Cast Credits: (alpha order): Rachel Cartwright – Stella. George Chalmers – Roly. Adrian Palmer – Itchington. Gemma Ryan – Ab.
Company Credits: Writer - Richard Povall. Director - Vashi MacLachlan. Music & Lyrics – Jim Woodland. Music Director – Rebekah Hughes. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Mikron Theatre Company. Joint Artistic Directors - Marianne McNamara & Richard Povall. Website - www.mikron.org.uk.
END
(c) Jonathan McPherson Friday 15 May 2009 / The Cellar, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield UK
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012