Satellites is an adaptation of the novel Women In Love (1920) by DH Lawrence (1885-1930), a scandalous tale of passion. This semi-poetical is performed with minimal lighting, a few props, half-hearted costume (while costumier Bess Roche has chosen nice period clothes, a general disregard for hair and make-up lends the production an amateur-dramatic, sloppy air) and a backing track which adds little to the dramatic tension. It fails to communicate dated prose and even more dated ideas to a modern audience.

Artist and free thinker Gudrun Brangwen (Lauren Hyett) has returned (from whence it is unclear) to England. She discusses the pros and cons of marriage with her sister Ursula (Ella Thackeray). This conversation between the two women clops along like the playground banter of girls playing mummies and daddies, but the playfulness and spark of such children is lacking: one can only conclude that the meaninglessness of this patter is unintentional. There is a disappointingly academic tone - it is as though the text is being read aloud. This awkward, static non-theatricality is only worsened by the dead-pan, fluffy narration of the scene provided by male cast members. Phil Bartlett's direction feels weak, failing to create a style; the result is lazy naturalism bolstered by even lazier recitation.

The scene moves to Ursula's classroom; she is instructing imaginary children. Ella Thackeray captures the school mistress's innocence and idealism well, but, when he enters, there is no sense that she has more than a mere crush on the object of all her desires, Rupert Birkin (Francis Parham). Emotional intensity is reduced to teenage, apathetical wanting, or Francis Parham's delivery of monk-like purity which belies his sensual script.

Fortunately, Fiona Guest, who (perhaps unwisely) has been cast in just under half of the play's female roles, makes an effort to embody her characters, not just physically and vocally, but for the most part, emotionally. Her comical Pussum is finely observed. Her portrayal of the abandoned Hermione, desperately in love with Rupert, ripples with sexual tension, lust, despair. In her final scene with Birkin, Fiona Guest channels rage seemingly with her whole being. This is only let down by some washy choreography and a lack of anything to fight against - the direction injects very little, if any, depth of feeling into their exchange.

What is lost repeatedly is DH Lawrence's use of language as foreplay or as a weapon and the way his words become actions. Director Phil Bartlett appears to trust too much in the script to do all the work for the performers, and it simply does not. This becomes most apparent in exchanges between Gerald Crich (Tim Kiely) and Gudrun Brangwen (Lauren Hyett). Three coloured lanterns build a sense of romantic intensity as the couple row (though the mimed rowing is non-committal and somewhat silly). Crich's mounting frustration is well placed by Tim Kiely, but is so under-stated it is lost. Meanwhile Gudrun remains two-dimensional, her hollow desire to be desired loses truth as Lauren Hyett's characterisation, like the boat, merely skims the surface.

The actors are not solely to blame - the adaptation and ropey direction allows the fierce craving for sexual release to be lost in a chaotic and unnecessary plot turn. Suddenly 'Diana is in the water'. Who's Diana? This is the first mention of Crich's sister; her drowning means nothing - unless the novel has been read - and so neither does Crich's reaction. This gets to the core problem with the production: it relies too heavily on knowledge of the story, and building it with the help of a bit of choreography and the players. So little genuine warmth or force of human emotion is put into the acting that any sense of time, of place, of rationale is pale. The result is not caring what happens. It's not clear if the significant dramatic incident is actually fatal and probably no-one is too bothered. The play is reduced to a few semi-clothed and clichéd sex scenes and childlike fights.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Ella Thackeray - Ursula Bangwen. Lauren Hyett - Gundrun Brangwen. Francis Parham - Rupert Birkin. Tim Kiely - Gerald Crich. Fiona Guest - Hermione Roddice, the Pussum, Mrs Daykin, Diana Crich, Mrs Crich, the hostess. Robert Snellgrove - Salsie Roddice, Julius Halliday, Dr Brindell, Mr Crich, Loerke.

Company Credits: Writer (of novel Women In Love, 1920) - DH Lawrence (David Herbert Richards Lawrence, 1885-1930). Director - Phil Bartlett. Lighting Designer - (uncredited). Sound Designer - (uncredited). Assistant Producer / Technician - Edmund Singer-Kingsmith. Fight Designer - Dan Carrall-Green. Choreographer - Rachel Dedman. Costumier - Bess Roche. Producer - Tess Ellison. Company - Awful Pie Theatre.

END

(c) Rebecca Gibson 2011

reviewed Friday 5 August 2011 / The Space on the Mile, Edinburgh, UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com