Hartshorn Hook productions were keen for me to see this show, but it didn't quite make the mark. Fiona Paul plays 5 different characters. The character changes are masked by a voice-over of some-one who has supposedly found Fiona's handbag and been going through the contents.
Although the individual characters were well drawn, it was familiar territory - the insufferable "Stagecoach" type commercial youth theatre director, the mother -in-law who doesn;'t want to be any trouble , but is hugely trouble, etc.
It's set out cabaret style, but not much is made of this. and there's a pianist , she sings the occasional song - she says she wants to bring the audience to "pleasure level 10" - but she doesn't make much of the cabaret setting and is not confident enough to improvise with the audience. the whole show doesn't really hang together .
Pleasure level 4 and a half I'd say.
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Bob's blog- EDUCATING RONNIE -ASSEMBLY gEORGE SQ
I was attacted to this show having worked for a time in Africa, with a nephew even now trying to run a Comunity Developmetnt Through Sport programme in Uganda which my brother (who came with me to see the show) also has to support financially.
Another very engaging young performer who gives a devastatingly honest account of how a meeting with a young boy in Uganda (Ronnie) at the age of 18 led to him sending ever-increasing amounts of money which he couldn't afford, over the next 10 years, to help Ronnie's education. As doubts creep in as to whether the pleas for help are genuine or a scam the audience follow every up and down of a roller coaster of emotions.The actual words of Ronnie, the ugandan boy, are voiced by an actor - and his texts displayed on a video screen. It's a beautifully judged and understated performance that puts you through the emotional mill.
Technically very straightforward and would work well for rural touring. Perhaps in conjunction with a church or Oxfam group ?
Another very engaging young performer who gives a devastatingly honest account of how a meeting with a young boy in Uganda (Ronnie) at the age of 18 led to him sending ever-increasing amounts of money which he couldn't afford, over the next 10 years, to help Ronnie's education. As doubts creep in as to whether the pleas for help are genuine or a scam the audience follow every up and down of a roller coaster of emotions.The actual words of Ronnie, the ugandan boy, are voiced by an actor - and his texts displayed on a video screen. It's a beautifully judged and understated performance that puts you through the emotional mill.
Technically very straightforward and would work well for rural touring. Perhaps in conjunction with a church or Oxfam group ?
Bob's Blog - DANIEL BYE -THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING - Northern Stage at St Peter's
I didn't get to Warwick, where an extract of this work in progress was shown. Daniel is a very engaging performer,and this is a Dave Gormanesque public lecture about price and value, particularly the value of the arts. The interesting thing about his presentation is that he de-constructs it as he goes along. Having built up a plausible story in the first half about selling air-guitar on e-bay to fund the show, he then undermines it before launching on another more obvious fable in the second half. Good use of powerpoint and fesh milk !
I'm not sure how you'd sell it to a typical village hall audience but we might try it in the arts centre.
I'm not sure how you'd sell it to a typical village hall audience but we might try it in the arts centre.
Bob's Blog - MARK THOMAS BRAVO FIGARO -traverse
Having recently met Mark when he did a gig for the Cockermouth Festival - a great show based on his walk along the wall between Israel and Palestine- I was keen to see this show - which is scripted, not stand-up, and uses interviews with his brother, mum and dying father, as well as actual objects from his childhood. It's an honest, moving account of his father - not at all sentimental - who was a remarkable character, but a very diffuclt person to live with, a thatcherite, Methodist, self-made builder who discovered Opera.
I think the show is probably too technical for rural touring, which is a shame, because it's avery simple concept and effective, with a powerful emotional punch. It's probably too expensive, also, as Mark is VAT registered as well as commanding a £1k fee.
the show is also touring after Ebro - catch it then if you can.
But I'd throughly recommend this show. Maybe he can do a simpler version for a further tour. I know his agent so will broach the idea later.
I think the show is probably too technical for rural touring, which is a shame, because it's avery simple concept and effective, with a powerful emotional punch. It's probably too expensive, also, as Mark is VAT registered as well as commanding a £1k fee.
the show is also touring after Ebro - catch it then if you can.
But I'd throughly recommend this show. Maybe he can do a simpler version for a further tour. I know his agent so will broach the idea later.
Bob's Blog - BANE 3 - Plesance Dome -17.15
I'd heard so much about it, and booked him on trust, and he didn't disappoint. Bane is obviously becoming a cult at Edinburgh. The room was packed and the response enthusiastic. A brilliant, original concept which pariodies every hollywood gangster/action cliche you can think of. What Joe Bone has realised is that the very quick cutting between scenes which is a feature of modern film editing translates beautifully to one-man muilti-characater playing. THe live guitar sound track is beautifully modulated, almost understated, by Ben Roe and the whole show is a joy.
Make sure you see him. It doesn't really matter which show - he does 1,2,3 on consecutive days.
Perfect for rural toruing.
Make sure you see him. It doesn't really matter which show - he does 1,2,3 on consecutive days.
Perfect for rural toruing.
Bob's Blog -HANGMAN - Assembly Roxy
This was on the China Plate list, so always worth a punt. It's a piece of Russian Expressionist physical theatre, almost wordless, very stylishly done in black clothes, dim lighting and a set made almost entirely of newspapers and old books. Described as a "Macabre dance of death" it was just that, and to try to make any more sense of it would have been in vain. If you're a theatre buff, it's good way to pass an hour, but not life-changing ! Neither technically, artistically or humanly possible or appropriate for rural touring.
Bob's Blog - THE MANY MISHAPS OF MR VINEGAR - 2 boards and a Passion, Surgeon's Hall
This company had made an unsuccessful pitch to the PANDA pitching day, and I offered to view it to give feedback.
It's based on a traditional story of a "village idiot" type.
I found it amateurish, with poor production values and poor performance skills. There's a lot of second-rate children's theatre out there, and I'm afraid this is part of it. Lines were fluffed, choreography was rudimentary and inexpertly done, set was crude, cheap and looked it. There was an annoyingly memorable ditty that was repeated till you couldn't get it out of your head -that's one of the plus points. The other was quite a nice sound effect of Mr Vinegar's slow thought-processes.
There was no attempt to interact with the children in the audience before the show began. Towrads the end there was abit of moderately successful slapstick that got a reaction from the children just as i though they were sinking into complete apathy.
It appeared to be one of those husband-and-wife shows with no outside direction, and no realsense of where the best children's theatre is nowadays (see my Shona Reppe review)
It's based on a traditional story of a "village idiot" type.
I found it amateurish, with poor production values and poor performance skills. There's a lot of second-rate children's theatre out there, and I'm afraid this is part of it. Lines were fluffed, choreography was rudimentary and inexpertly done, set was crude, cheap and looked it. There was an annoyingly memorable ditty that was repeated till you couldn't get it out of your head -that's one of the plus points. The other was quite a nice sound effect of Mr Vinegar's slow thought-processes.
There was no attempt to interact with the children in the audience before the show began. Towrads the end there was abit of moderately successful slapstick that got a reaction from the children just as i though they were sinking into complete apathy.
It appeared to be one of those husband-and-wife shows with no outside direction, and no realsense of where the best children's theatre is nowadays (see my Shona Reppe review)
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