Double Up
Wed, 16 Nov 2005, 02:04 pmWalter Plinge3 posts in thread
Double Up
Wed, 16 Nov 2005, 02:04 pmIt's always interesting to see how a new theatre group develops - whether the initial enthusiasm can be sustained long after all the noises of encouragement have died away. So it was largely curiosity that took me to see the latest production (#3) at Phoenix Theatre. That plus it's very near where I live.
This show consists of two one-act plays by the same playwright (Simon Denver) and with the same director (Jane Sherwood). The first, "That Scottish Play", is set in a regional community theatre group and is so riddled with cliches and stereotypes that anyone with any experience of the internal politics of community theatre (or any similar voluntary organisation for that matter) will readily identify and either laugh out loud or squirm at.
The second act, "The Seven Deadly Sins" is a new take on a well-worn theme. This time, the vignettes are done in very unusual ways, using a variety of cultural icons behaving 'inappropriately' with generally hilarious results.
On the whole, the show was done very well, with few rough patches. I feel I laughed harder and longer during the first act, but friends who were with me favoured the second, so 'chacun a son gout'. I was impressed with the light and sound results in the older style space at Hamilton Hill Hall, also with the sheer number of characters and the dazzling array of costumes - a daunting prospect for any director, let alone one with quite a young and inexperienced cast to work with.
The atmosphere at Phoenix is very friendly and inviting and I left feeling as if I had been an outside guest at a family party. But then, Phoenix is that sort of theatre group which nevertheless continues to break new ground. Keep up the good work my friends.
This show consists of two one-act plays by the same playwright (Simon Denver) and with the same director (Jane Sherwood). The first, "That Scottish Play", is set in a regional community theatre group and is so riddled with cliches and stereotypes that anyone with any experience of the internal politics of community theatre (or any similar voluntary organisation for that matter) will readily identify and either laugh out loud or squirm at.
The second act, "The Seven Deadly Sins" is a new take on a well-worn theme. This time, the vignettes are done in very unusual ways, using a variety of cultural icons behaving 'inappropriately' with generally hilarious results.
On the whole, the show was done very well, with few rough patches. I feel I laughed harder and longer during the first act, but friends who were with me favoured the second, so 'chacun a son gout'. I was impressed with the light and sound results in the older style space at Hamilton Hill Hall, also with the sheer number of characters and the dazzling array of costumes - a daunting prospect for any director, let alone one with quite a young and inexperienced cast to work with.
The atmosphere at Phoenix is very friendly and inviting and I left feeling as if I had been an outside guest at a family party. But then, Phoenix is that sort of theatre group which nevertheless continues to break new ground. Keep up the good work my friends.