A Chorus of Disapproval ***
Sun, 30 Nov 2003, 11:40 amGordon the Optom2 posts in thread
A Chorus of Disapproval ***
Sun, 30 Nov 2003, 11:40 amAlan Ayckbourn’s ‘A Chorus of Disapproval’ is running at the Old Mill Theatre, where, thanks to the almost completed new auditorium, one can now view the stage clearly and comfortably from any position in the house. The place is looking good.
The play is about a Welsh village putting on a rendition of ‘The Beggar’s Opera’. The group has major internal power cliques, sexual frustrations and resultant problems. When the ‘wet’ Guy Jones (Lars Jensen) turns up asking for a part in the production from director Dafydd (‘definitely not David’ – played by Hywel Williams) the complications really start. For any one who has had membership experience of a small club, acting or otherwise, and has lived in a small village this play is so true to life.
Every actor in this production captured his or her character well; and Ayckbourn gave each person a ‘20 seconds of fame spot’, which was beautifully carried out by each actor. The play had lots of humour, quality costumes and backdrops.
There were a few problems, which were amazingly mentioned in the script.
There is still a problem with the aircon as those of us in the back row found just before the interval, and when director Dafydd asks ‘Does any one feel it hot in here’ I was almost bursting to say ‘Yes – sweltering’. Again the lighting was mentioned in the play, and in several scenes the actors didn’t find their lights – which I suspect were in any case too low ‘suitable for Snow White’s dwarfs’.
However the main problem was that despite the excellent acting there was a lack of punch to the show’s flow. Was it the directing? Was it the many (but necessary) scene changes? These were definitely poorly organised and after one dimming of lights, the cast walked off and there was a further gap of at least 5 seconds before any stage hand appeared – so about 10 seconds of blackout before any set movement. This comedy needs as much snappy production as it can get, so don’t let the actors down. I know there was a lot to do at each change; you had the team find the urgency.
Having said this, the play was very professionally acted and can be thoroughly recommended. from the audience there was a general 'Chorus of APPROVAL'.
The play is about a Welsh village putting on a rendition of ‘The Beggar’s Opera’. The group has major internal power cliques, sexual frustrations and resultant problems. When the ‘wet’ Guy Jones (Lars Jensen) turns up asking for a part in the production from director Dafydd (‘definitely not David’ – played by Hywel Williams) the complications really start. For any one who has had membership experience of a small club, acting or otherwise, and has lived in a small village this play is so true to life.
Every actor in this production captured his or her character well; and Ayckbourn gave each person a ‘20 seconds of fame spot’, which was beautifully carried out by each actor. The play had lots of humour, quality costumes and backdrops.
There were a few problems, which were amazingly mentioned in the script.
There is still a problem with the aircon as those of us in the back row found just before the interval, and when director Dafydd asks ‘Does any one feel it hot in here’ I was almost bursting to say ‘Yes – sweltering’. Again the lighting was mentioned in the play, and in several scenes the actors didn’t find their lights – which I suspect were in any case too low ‘suitable for Snow White’s dwarfs’.
However the main problem was that despite the excellent acting there was a lack of punch to the show’s flow. Was it the directing? Was it the many (but necessary) scene changes? These were definitely poorly organised and after one dimming of lights, the cast walked off and there was a further gap of at least 5 seconds before any stage hand appeared – so about 10 seconds of blackout before any set movement. This comedy needs as much snappy production as it can get, so don’t let the actors down. I know there was a lot to do at each change; you had the team find the urgency.
Having said this, the play was very professionally acted and can be thoroughly recommended. from the audience there was a general 'Chorus of APPROVAL'.