The venue has signs of a celebration: colourful bunting, fairy lights and even a guest book to sign. Stuck inconspicuously in a corner are a few scattered newspaper reports about gun crime and its victims in London. First impression is that they have no place in this setting, a little shrine set on a blood red wall.

Blood Wedding (1933, Bodas de Sangre) by Federico García Lorca (1898-1936) is originally set in Andalucía under the burning sun. In tonight's production it's in the sizzling heat of high summer in present-day South London that a score is settled with a knife, with devastating consequences. Parallels are drawn with the beating and fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old man (Shakilus Townsend) in South London in July 2008.

Audience members are invited in as wedding guests, given an order of service, and served with punch and party food. There's a vibrantly-dressed wedding party. Audience members are encouraged/forced to join in singing and dancing.

Heavy South-East-London accents are at first a bit distracting. The opening scenes in particular feel weak, with the impression that the actors have learnt their lines - and that's about it. But this is illusory. The first half is witty and full of frivolity. Sophie Benjamin stands out as the Sister, with a strong, warm, pitch-perfect voice that gets the production off the ground. She later follows with some great comedy/character work.

Jade Anouka makes a cute bride and finds truth in her character, though she doesn't really come into her own until the second act. Then her voice is set free, with formidable strength in her handling of the text. Marlon G Day as Leonardo has a tougher time finding the balance between super-cool-bad-boy and passionate lover. By the end of the first act, it's still not readily believable that Leonardo wants anything more than to get his leg over the bride. He certainly doesn't seem to love her. This is (to some extent) rectified in an early scene of the second act.

Trevor Michael Georges plays a wonderful, instantly-likeable father. He provides one of the stand-out pieces at the opening of the second act, with a monologue so well-delivered that it deserves an ovation. Amanda Poesner is equally outstanding with a heart-rendingly truthful depiction of the wife. Her solos may raise hairs on the back of the neck, and bring tears to the eyes. The finale is particularly strong and leaves a feeling of sadness, and a strange empowerment - that maybe it's not too late to make a difference.

Blood Wedding is impressively and ambitiously directed by Poppy Burton-Morgan. Jessica Dannheisser's musical score for is excellent, as is William Reynolds's atmospheric lighting in the second act. It doesn't all work. The cast resort - a little - to shouting. Some of the emotion is laid over. The rap in the second act is lost (in fact bought a few titters from tonight's audience). But on the whole it is compelling, fun, with many raw, truthful moments.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Jade Anouka - The Bride. Sophie Benjamin - Sister. Marlon G Day - Leonardo. Trevor Michael Georges - Father. Tai Lawrence - Groom. Amanda Poesner - Wife. Naomi Wirthner - Mother.

Company Credits: Writer - Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Adaptation - Poppy Burton-Morgan. Director - Poppy Burton-Morgan. Composer - Jessica Dannheisser. Choreographer - Tim Jackson. Set Designer - William Reynolds. Costume Designer - Saka Matsushita. Lighting Designer - William Reynolds. Sound Designer - Liam Welton. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Metta Theatre. Website - www.mettatheatre.co.uk.

END

(c) Sophie Holland 2009

reviewed Wednesday 15 July 09 / Southwark Playhouse, London UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com