Spring Fever
Sat, 11 Sept 2010, 09:59 amGordon the Optom2 posts in thread
Spring Fever
Sat, 11 Sept 2010, 09:59 am‘Spring Fever’ is a collection of four short plays, produced by the Melville Theatre Group, which is showing at Melville Theatre, Stock Road, Palmyra. Performances start nightly at 8.00 pm and run until 18th September, with one Sunday matinee on 12th September at 2.00 pm.
‘The Game’ is a 94 years old play written by American Marxist and anarchist, Louise Bryant. This tedious play was directed by Nicquelle May and Brianna Dunn.
The concept of the play is where Death (Craig Menner) wheels and deals with Life (Rachel Leonhardt) over the lives of a ballerina (Kate O'Sullivan) and her musical hero (Saul Dunn) who she meets on a New York bridge.
This play’s dialogue was extremely outdated, yet strangely not made more contemporary by the directors. To direct such an ancient theme, exciting and imaginative direction was called for but sadly not forthcoming. The actors were like King Canute as they battled bravely – but hopelessly - against the elements.
‘Valerie Gets Hitched’ was a wonderful monologue, written and directed by Therese Edmonds, who was this year’s worthy Maj Monologue winner.
Because her new husband is just a little ‘nervous puppy’, newlywed Valerie (Kylie Calwell) decides to give the speech at her wedding reception. Looking the worse for wear, this scrubber, downs a jar or two and lets fly.
A very funny monologue terrifically portrayed. The wife from Hell in the making. Excellent
‘Gavin Regrets’ another magnificent monologue written and directed by Therese Edmonds.
We join Gavin (Skyler Ellis – superb) a young man seated in the police interview room trying to explain why the night before he had left a trail of destruction before his arrest.
Easily the best play of the evening, magnificently acted with total capturing of the character. I am still laughing.
‘Checkout’ a serious short-play, by award winning writer, the renowned John Grimshaw. This style of play is well away from Johnny’s normal zany comedy. Capably directed by Felicity May, who did so well with last year’s ‘Winter Warmers’.
A dramatised social commentary on the way big business has forgotten the customer and the employees.
When Mr Morgan (Jeff Hansen) visits his local supermarket, a new manager (Adrian O'Neill) has taken over and Jenny (Kylie Calwell) has the job of advising the customers of the new checkout system. Warehouse worker, Grace (Kate O'Sullivan) is not too pleased either.
An interesting theme but would work much better with a second story thread running in conjunction. As it is, not really enough to hold the audience’s interest.
The show is 80 minutes including the interval this meant that the 20-minutes interval came after only 30 minutes of performance.
Sorry, but over all a barely average night at the theatre.
‘Spring Fever’ is a collection of four short plays, produced by the Melville Theatre Group, which is showing at Melville Theatre, Stock Road, Palmyra. Performances start nightly at 8.00 pm and run until 18th September, with one Sunday matinee on 12th September at 2.00 pm.
‘The Game’ is a 94 years old play written by American Marxist and anarchist, Louise Bryant. This tedious play was directed by Nicquelle May and Brianna Dunn.
The concept of the play is where Death (Craig Menner) wheels and deals with Life (Rachel Leonhardt) over the lives of a ballerina (Kate O'Sullivan) and her musical hero (Saul Dunn) who she meets on a New York bridge.
This play’s dialogue was extremely outdated, yet strangely not made more contemporary by the directors. To direct such an ancient theme, exciting and imaginative direction was called for but sadly not forthcoming. The actors were like King Canute as they battled bravely – but hopelessly - against the elements.
‘Valerie Gets Hitched’ was a wonderful monologue, written and directed by Therese Edmonds, who was this year’s worthy Maj Monologue winner.
Because her new husband is just a little ‘nervous puppy’, newlywed Valerie (Kylie Calwell) decides to give the speech at her wedding reception. Looking the worse for wear, this scrubber, downs a jar or two and lets fly.
A very funny monologue terrifically portrayed. The wife from Hell in the making. Excellent
‘Gavin Regrets’ another magnificent monologue written and directed by Therese Edmonds.
We join Gavin (Skyler Ellis – superb) a young man seated in the police interview room trying to explain why the night before he had left a trail of destruction before his arrest.
Easily the best play of the evening, magnificently acted with total capturing of the character. I am still laughing.
‘Checkout’ a serious short-play, by award winning writer, the renowned John Grimshaw. This style of play is well away from Johnny’s normal zany comedy. Capably directed by Felicity May, who did so well with last year’s ‘Winter Warmers’.
A dramatised social commentary on the way big business has forgotten the customer and the employees.
When Mr Morgan (Jeff Hansen) visits his local supermarket, a new manager (Adrian O'Neill) has taken over and Jenny (Kylie Calwell) has the job of advising the customers of the new checkout system. Warehouse worker, Grace (Kate O'Sullivan) is not too pleased either.
An interesting theme but would work much better with a second story thread running in conjunction. As it is, not really enough to hold the audience’s interest.
The show is 80 minutes including the interval this meant that the 20-minutes interval came after only 30 minutes of performance.
Sorry, but over all a barely average night at the theatre.