WE ARE YOUNG !

WE ARE YOUNG !

Chelmsford Gang Show at the Civic Theatre

24.04.13

Young, and constantly rejuvenated, as new blood is recruited to the ranks.

No-one at the opening night could criticise this ambitious extravaganza for being too slick, or over-rehearsed. But bags of enthusiasm, and some talent to be spotted amongst the Guides, Scouts, Beavers and Brownies, directed by Jo Dennis, Amy Ely, Emma Hills and the producer, Terry Simister. MDs are Gwilym Morris and Stephan Nicholls, with choreography by Caz Wilcox.

The Mini-Gang certainly has its share of stars, in their murder mystery costume drama, with musical nods to The Band Wagon and Bugsy Malone.

G&S, too, for the nautical sequence at the top of Act Two, nice choreography for the title number, some good choral singing ["When I Grow Up"], generous helpings of Blood Brothers and an excellent trio of Fionas in Fairytales. Promising work too from the Sunflower Sword rebel and Edward Lyons. Cheerleaders in the auditorium opener, and again in the traditional travesti sequence. And leading into the uniformed Finale, an amusing take on Leader of the Pack …

Jim Hutchon saw the show for the Chelmsford Weekly News – here is his review:

Produced by Terry Simister, Chelmsford Scout and Guide’s 56^th Gang Show got off to a bright, confident start of song and colour, with lots of action and energy. Unfortunately, from that point it rather deteriorated into an under-rehearsed and not very well directed production. The boys and girls threw themselves into the numbers with boundless drive and unending enthusiasm but were never allowed to gel into the superb rhythm and great moments that have characterised earlier Gang Shows.

The schoolboy sketches and gags were there, as always, but seemed in this production to be a bit corny and hesitant. Many of the songs were obscure, and the orchestra seemed only to have one beat – a loud, overbearing rock treatment. I heard and saw some superb voices and natural dance movers among the chorus, who I felt could have improved the show if they had been spotted and brought out more.

It gives me no pleasure to write this as I am a great fan of the Gang Show, but I hope they will take this in the spirit it is intended. Next year’s has already been pencilled in for April 27^th – May 3rd, and I look forward to it.

A ONE MAN PROTEST

A ONE MAN PROTEST

at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester

19.04.13

for The Public Reviews

Here we are, into the second of the four linked plays chosen to feature across the Made in Colchester season. If you missed Events on a Hotel Terrace, you'll not know that all sixteen possible combinations start with "How It Began" and the butterfly-effect decision: to smoke or not to smoke.

This time, we move on to A Visit from a Friend, through Confessions in A Garden Shed, to A One Man Protest [the meat of this piece] and the final choice, which turns out to be … no, you need to discover that one for yourself, as the shed and the decking disappear to reveal a deserted churchyard.

This one is mostly about Miles. Chair of Governors, well-meaning, unhappily married to the serially unfaithful Rowena. A perfectly observed character – I'm sure I've met him – superb as he rehearses his speech to the Board, and much later his reunion with the children he's not seen for five years. "Why does it always happen to me," he asks, like many another Ayckbourn anti-hero. He's the almost innocent object of the two attempted seductions in Act One, and even the third, mock seduction is for his benefit, really, though by this time he's locked himself in the shed, living like an anchorite, but with room service, and the three women in his life loitering outside, each of them convinced that the lines from Wordsworth refer to her.

And of course all three are played, heroically, by Ruth Gibson, swapping wigs and characters in a trice. Apart from the silly, childish [but not especially "bovine"] Rowena, she's also the brisk Celia, whose garden this is, and the vacuous Sylvie, Mrs Bell's eldest, the skivvy who comes round to the idea of coastal walking with Miles.

He's played by Gwynfor Jones, who makes memorable appearances in two supporting roles: Toby [Celia's hard-drinking headteacher husband], not so much an "incoherent slob" as a boorish, Cleesey character in a flat cap, and the loutish Lionel, school groundsman, proving his prowess by running on the spot in his Superman undies.

Robin Herford's production is perfectly judged – just enough farce, plenty of raw humanity too, and comedy that comes naturally from the characters. And technically it all works brilliantly, bar one sticky moment with the smouldering shed.

Two more Intimate Exchanges to come, featuring the same cast of characters – "A Pageant" in May, and "A Game of Golf" in June. And if you missed Lionel's cream teas in the first offering, "Events on a Hotel Terrace" will be revived for three shows only at the end of April.

this piece first appeared on The Public Reviews