Smoke
Fri, 1 Feb 2002, 12:50 amWalter Plinge4 posts in thread
Smoke
Fri, 1 Feb 2002, 12:50 amWell, I've just come back from seeing 'Smoke' by Braydon Harris at the Geisha nightclub in Northbridge, and I just wanted to get on here and say I was IMPRESSED. No, dammit, it ROCKED. There have only been a few plays (and I do mean a very few) which have had me riveted to the action in front of me, at times not even daring to blink in case I might miss something, no matter how small. This is a real edge of your seat thing, and not for the weak (or stupid) of heart.
One aspect that really struck me was how well the play was cast. i never doubted any of thier respective credibilities for a second, and with the short rehearsal period the actors had before the show, i can only applaud in admration.
This play (starring Steve Black, Shane Hughes, Craig Edwards and David Whitehead) had me laughing my butt off at times and clutching it in fear at others. The charcterisations on the parts of all the cast were near perfect, also the oustanding chemistry onstage between Black and Hughes was nothing short of amazing. Edwards has us believing he really is a backstabbing, untrustworthy so and so from the very start and I really do have to mention that for this being the very first time Whitehead has got up on a theatrical stage (with 3 weeks rehearsal behind him) he really gets it right. (Although I would have liked to have seen more of him.)
The credit for this would have to go to Michael Knowles (Director), who really seemed to bring these terrible characters out of these guys and then give them something to do.
Braydon Harris is a great writer, he seems to be able to grasp the concepts of sub-plots and charcter development with ease. His no-holds-barred approach to language is fantastic and really gives it that 'real dialogue' 'street feel' that I do so love. Somebody give this guy a grant.
One device I did love was the commentary from Dennis Commetti - a kind of 'horse racing commenatry' style that brought you up to speed with what was happening in the story during all the set changes. Nice touch indeed.
Lastly - Scotty Mitchell's original score for this show was awsome. It is constant throughout the show, but never annoys, in fact it enhances whatever is happening in the show. Really gets your heart a-thumpin'.
I have decided not to go into the plot at all for the purpose of not giving anything away.
I left the venue wishing I'd been in this show.
I want you to go and see this.
Hope you do.
One aspect that really struck me was how well the play was cast. i never doubted any of thier respective credibilities for a second, and with the short rehearsal period the actors had before the show, i can only applaud in admration.
This play (starring Steve Black, Shane Hughes, Craig Edwards and David Whitehead) had me laughing my butt off at times and clutching it in fear at others. The charcterisations on the parts of all the cast were near perfect, also the oustanding chemistry onstage between Black and Hughes was nothing short of amazing. Edwards has us believing he really is a backstabbing, untrustworthy so and so from the very start and I really do have to mention that for this being the very first time Whitehead has got up on a theatrical stage (with 3 weeks rehearsal behind him) he really gets it right. (Although I would have liked to have seen more of him.)
The credit for this would have to go to Michael Knowles (Director), who really seemed to bring these terrible characters out of these guys and then give them something to do.
Braydon Harris is a great writer, he seems to be able to grasp the concepts of sub-plots and charcter development with ease. His no-holds-barred approach to language is fantastic and really gives it that 'real dialogue' 'street feel' that I do so love. Somebody give this guy a grant.
One device I did love was the commentary from Dennis Commetti - a kind of 'horse racing commenatry' style that brought you up to speed with what was happening in the story during all the set changes. Nice touch indeed.
Lastly - Scotty Mitchell's original score for this show was awsome. It is constant throughout the show, but never annoys, in fact it enhances whatever is happening in the show. Really gets your heart a-thumpin'.
I have decided not to go into the plot at all for the purpose of not giving anything away.
I left the venue wishing I'd been in this show.
I want you to go and see this.
Hope you do.