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%]
Amanda ChestertonFri, 28 June 2002, 06:23 pm
What: 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%]
Walter PlingeFri, 28 June 2002, 09:07 pm
Re: Kevin's Bed
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.....
Walter PlingeSat, 29 June 2002, 09:36 pm
Re: Kevin's Bed
alyssa certainly knows what she's on bout!i saw the play last sunday and i couldn't believe how great it was!i have an extremely short attention span and anyone who knows me can tell ya that, but this play was very entertaining.and john definitely was great, and so was simon (thanx for the autograph!the play was great!), in fact the whole cast was marvelous......but i'm a bit bias towards john coz i know him!
john, you were great, you were excellent, you're talented, you embarrassed yet?
simon, you were just as good as john was and i'll treasure the autograph alwayz(hehehe!)
john, you were great, you were excellent, you're talented, you embarrassed yet?
simon, you were just as good as john was and i'll treasure the autograph alwayz(hehehe!)
Walter PlingeSun, 30 June 2002, 12:31 pm
Re: Kevin's Bed
I thankyou for taking the time and effort to write a review of what has been, for all of us, and by all accounts, all of our audiences, a very enjoyable experience. However, I would politely request that you do not, in furture, extrapolate first-night nerves into "a bit of an issue". None of my cast, which included some novices, as well as other very experienced actors, suffered from any problem with the (undoubtedly wordy) script, which is typical of Bernard Farrell's many popular plays.
I have been absolutely delighted with their professionalism, and the authentic performances they gave, in both that, the opening night, and the six subsequent performances.
I believe that we who are involved in Community theatre have a responsibility, not only to our audience, to provide a good show, but also to our community's seasoned and budding performers, in that we provide a forum for both the naturally gifted, and the merely enthusiastic, to exercise their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Naomi Lynch, Director,
I have been absolutely delighted with their professionalism, and the authentic performances they gave, in both that, the opening night, and the six subsequent performances.
I believe that we who are involved in Community theatre have a responsibility, not only to our audience, to provide a good show, but also to our community's seasoned and budding performers, in that we provide a forum for both the naturally gifted, and the merely enthusiastic, to exercise their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Naomi Lynch, Director,
Walter PlingeSun, 30 June 2002, 01:00 pm
Re: Kevin's Bed
Amendment to my previous email:
Let me just clarify, Amanda, that in talking about 'first-night nerves', I am referring directly to a conversation you had with one of my cast on the first night of the second week, which apparently led to your misunderstanding that there had been a prior 'issue'.
Let me just clarify, Amanda, that in talking about 'first-night nerves', I am referring directly to a conversation you had with one of my cast on the first night of the second week, which apparently led to your misunderstanding that there had been a prior 'issue'.
Amanda ChestertonSun, 30 June 2002, 07:35 pm
Re: Kevin's Bed
I tried replying to this by direct email, sorry, but it bounced back. I'm afraid I'm going to have to put it here, because I feel that the misunderstanding has gone both ways!
Naomi -
> Let me just clarify, Amanda, that in talking about 'first-night
>nerves', I am referring directly to a
> conversation you had with one of my cast on the first night of the
>second week, which apparently led to
> your misunderstanding that there had been a prior 'issue'.
Please read over the review again - I don't recall mentioning
first-night nerves at any point in my review. I never would either
because I don't see that as any sort of excuse for a sub-standard
performance (which Kevin's Bed certainly was not).
A cast member of Kevin's Bed, who I was in regular contact with
through the whole rehearsal period, stated repeatedly that difficulty
with the lines in this production was one of his major concerns.
That was the source of my statement - not that post-show
conversation, which was initiated by my friend who noticed dropped
lines, without having ever being party to this cast-member's concerns.
> we provide a forum for both the naturally gifted, and the merely
>enthusiastic, to
> exercise their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment.
As I recall my review was 100% supportive and encouraging of the
production. However, I cannot, in good conscience, write a review
which is gushing with praise without some criticism. We, as
performers, want and need constructive feedback. As a viewer, I
believe performers also need this constructive feedback, so that they
can constantly improve their work, therefore guaranteeing audiences a
high quality show for their money. I believe I phrased that
particular piece of criticism in a very, very positive manner
(without the use of 'first night nerves' as an excuse) and suggested
how it may be rectified. I also phrased the review in such a way
that it was clearly only my opinion, and someone else may think
entirely otherwise.
I apologise profusely if you took issue with any part of the review,
however I felt that everything I said was completely grounded in
truth, and was entirely balanced in both praise and constructive
feedback.
Kindest regards,
[%sig%]
Naomi -
> Let me just clarify, Amanda, that in talking about 'first-night
>nerves', I am referring directly to a
> conversation you had with one of my cast on the first night of the
>second week, which apparently led to
> your misunderstanding that there had been a prior 'issue'.
Please read over the review again - I don't recall mentioning
first-night nerves at any point in my review. I never would either
because I don't see that as any sort of excuse for a sub-standard
performance (which Kevin's Bed certainly was not).
A cast member of Kevin's Bed, who I was in regular contact with
through the whole rehearsal period, stated repeatedly that difficulty
with the lines in this production was one of his major concerns.
That was the source of my statement - not that post-show
conversation, which was initiated by my friend who noticed dropped
lines, without having ever being party to this cast-member's concerns.
> we provide a forum for both the naturally gifted, and the merely
>enthusiastic, to
> exercise their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment.
As I recall my review was 100% supportive and encouraging of the
production. However, I cannot, in good conscience, write a review
which is gushing with praise without some criticism. We, as
performers, want and need constructive feedback. As a viewer, I
believe performers also need this constructive feedback, so that they
can constantly improve their work, therefore guaranteeing audiences a
high quality show for their money. I believe I phrased that
particular piece of criticism in a very, very positive manner
(without the use of 'first night nerves' as an excuse) and suggested
how it may be rectified. I also phrased the review in such a way
that it was clearly only my opinion, and someone else may think
entirely otherwise.
I apologise profusely if you took issue with any part of the review,
however I felt that everything I said was completely grounded in
truth, and was entirely balanced in both praise and constructive
feedback.
Kindest regards,
[%sig%]
Walter PlingeSun, 30 June 2002, 08:22 pm
Re:"All but two of the cast were Irish..."
Just a small correction for your records...
In actual fact, only two of the cast were (originally) Irish, (presumably they still are...), not all but two, as stated.
Those two being Ormonde Waters, who played Dan, and John Dunne, he of the miniature fan club listed above... who played his namesake. All other cast members, that is: Simon (Kevin), Claire (Doris), Katrina (Betty), Shirley (Pauline), Lil (Maria), and Michelle (Cecily), are 'non-native'.
In actual fact, only two of the cast were (originally) Irish, (presumably they still are...), not all but two, as stated.
Those two being Ormonde Waters, who played Dan, and John Dunne, he of the miniature fan club listed above... who played his namesake. All other cast members, that is: Simon (Kevin), Claire (Doris), Katrina (Betty), Shirley (Pauline), Lil (Maria), and Michelle (Cecily), are 'non-native'.
Amanda ChestertonSun, 30 June 2002, 11:00 pm
Re:"All but two of the cast were Irish..."
Sincere apologies for the error.
But warmest congratulations for carrying such convincing accents!
[%sig%]
But warmest congratulations for carrying such convincing accents!
[%sig%]