Kevin's Bed
Fri, 28 June 2002, 06:23 pmAmanda Chesterton8 posts in thread
Kevin's Bed
Fri, 28 June 2002, 06:23 pmWhat: Kevin's Bed
When: Thursday, 27 June 2002, 8pm
Who: Irish Theatre Players, director Naomi Lynch, featuring Ormonde Waters, Clare Wilson, Simon Nichols, John Dunne, Katrina Bonds, Shirley Toohey, Lilliana Caltanisetta, Michelle Beaton
This play was an intriguing example of how the Irish are natural actors. As a friend who was with me said, they're a nation of storytellers - why shouldn't they be?
There was a complete, believable naturalism in all of these performances. All but two were (originally) native Irish-persons, and one truly felt that you were simply watching a heightened version of themselves and their own culture on stage. That may seem like a slightly vacuous and obvious comment, but if you see the show (and I recommend that you do) you'll see what I mean. It was effortless performing, and watching was like slipping into a warm bath.
The two non-Irishers were outstanding. Simon Nichols I've gushed about ad infinitum on this page before, and he didn't disappoint in this one. I often have a hard time watching people I know perform, as I can't get what I know about them out of my head. Simon is one of those few I can watch do bloody anything. His performing is seamless and every choice he makes for his character is spot on. No kneepads in sight, though (see recent posts titled 'Any work in Perth? HOORAH!' for that particular in-joke). Lilliana Caltanisetta as Maria is, and played, an Italian. Her energy and conviction were outstanding - the whole stage lit up when she came on.
My one and only criticism for the show would be that it had a slight lack of performance energy (Caltanisetta excepted). This may have been related to some unfamiliarity with the lines (not notable in the performance, but I understand that this has been a bit of an issue in the production) and the comfort each actor had with their characterisations. Simon - perhaps a few rounds of Muffin Man before you start?
Overall a teriffic show, and there's free tea, coffee and biscuits at interval!
[%sig%]
When: Thursday, 27 June 2002, 8pm
Who: Irish Theatre Players, director Naomi Lynch, featuring Ormonde Waters, Clare Wilson, Simon Nichols, John Dunne, Katrina Bonds, Shirley Toohey, Lilliana Caltanisetta, Michelle Beaton
This play was an intriguing example of how the Irish are natural actors. As a friend who was with me said, they're a nation of storytellers - why shouldn't they be?
There was a complete, believable naturalism in all of these performances. All but two were (originally) native Irish-persons, and one truly felt that you were simply watching a heightened version of themselves and their own culture on stage. That may seem like a slightly vacuous and obvious comment, but if you see the show (and I recommend that you do) you'll see what I mean. It was effortless performing, and watching was like slipping into a warm bath.
The two non-Irishers were outstanding. Simon Nichols I've gushed about ad infinitum on this page before, and he didn't disappoint in this one. I often have a hard time watching people I know perform, as I can't get what I know about them out of my head. Simon is one of those few I can watch do bloody anything. His performing is seamless and every choice he makes for his character is spot on. No kneepads in sight, though (see recent posts titled 'Any work in Perth? HOORAH!' for that particular in-joke). Lilliana Caltanisetta as Maria is, and played, an Italian. Her energy and conviction were outstanding - the whole stage lit up when she came on.
My one and only criticism for the show would be that it had a slight lack of performance energy (Caltanisetta excepted). This may have been related to some unfamiliarity with the lines (not notable in the performance, but I understand that this has been a bit of an issue in the production) and the comfort each actor had with their characterisations. Simon - perhaps a few rounds of Muffin Man before you start?
Overall a teriffic show, and there's free tea, coffee and biscuits at interval!
[%sig%]
Re: Kevin's Bed
Fri, 28 June 2002, 09:07 pmWalter Plinge
Kevin's Bed was a brilliant play which was bought to life by an amazing cast. Although Kevin (Simon Nichols) was the main character and put on a excellent performance, while I was watching the performance, one character just kept outshining the others (Sorry simon and all you others, but he did!). Ormand Waters (Dan) and Clare Wilson (Doris) were like naturals on the stage, providing us with frequent comic relief throughout the play, but it was John Dunne (who played their son, John) that displayed true performance skills.
John was a complex character, who underwent some bad times. In the second part of the play, we see how his dreams had been broken and how it had affected his life. It must have been difficult for John to show all the emotions which his character was going through, while having to listen to Dan making all those quips at the kitchen table, but he managed to pull it off. And very convincingly too. When his character was being placed under the scrutiny of a young budding journolist, you could sense that his character was very hurt and frustrated, by the tone in his voice, as well as the actions he used. His performance was electric, it was like he was born to be John. When you watched him move on stage, he was moving as John, son of Doris and Dan, and Kevin's brother, not John Dunne. He even sounded like John, his accent had absolutely no fault. And it certainly didn't hurt that he wasn't hard on the eye, he had the audience mesmorised, and not just for his acting skills.....
John was a complex character, who underwent some bad times. In the second part of the play, we see how his dreams had been broken and how it had affected his life. It must have been difficult for John to show all the emotions which his character was going through, while having to listen to Dan making all those quips at the kitchen table, but he managed to pull it off. And very convincingly too. When his character was being placed under the scrutiny of a young budding journolist, you could sense that his character was very hurt and frustrated, by the tone in his voice, as well as the actions he used. His performance was electric, it was like he was born to be John. When you watched him move on stage, he was moving as John, son of Doris and Dan, and Kevin's brother, not John Dunne. He even sounded like John, his accent had absolutely no fault. And it certainly didn't hurt that he wasn't hard on the eye, he had the audience mesmorised, and not just for his acting skills.....