The Beat Goes On
Fri, 19 Nov 2010, 10:09 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Beat Goes On
Fri, 19 Nov 2010, 10:09 am‘The Beat goes on’ by local prize-winning playwright, John Grimshaw, is a trilogy of comedies in the British tradition. The three sketches are being presented by A Lad in Sane Productions at three venues around Perth.
The play opened at the 140-tiered seat Camelot Theatre, 16 Lochee Street, Mosman Park where it runs nightly until the 20th November, with a matinee at 2.00 pm on Sunday 21st..
The play then moves to the comfortable, newly rescued, 200-seat Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Forest Lakes Shopping Centre complex, Murdoch Road in Thornlie, where it will show nightly on the 26th and 27th.
The production finishes the season at Midland Junction Arts Centre, 276 Great Eastern Highway, Midland. Again, with the evening performances being at 8.00 pm on 2nd, 3rd and 4th December and a Sunday matinee at 2.00 pm on the 5th December.
Two British Bobbies (Tony Clarke and Johnny Grim) wander into the auditorium and tell us how they have been brought over from Britain, at great expense, to advise the WA police, and inform the public of London Metropolitan police life. Anyone who used to be a ‘Bill’ fan would know of the Cockney ‘f’ replacing the ‘th’, this has been employed to give authenticity and added humour to this already madcap presentation.
The first short play (the term ‘sketch’ doesn’t really do the script justice) is: -
‘Meow’ directed by John Bevan
The police have been called around to a back garden in North London, where an old fella, Fred (Alan Malcolm) is having his wounds dressed by a nurse (Emily Criddle). Peering over the fence is Mrs Hampson (Barbara Walton), the interfering old bat next-door. Constable Platt (Jonathan Young) is trying to sort out the shambles which started with a minor traffic accident, but had a devastating effect upon Fred’s wife Doris (John Bevan).
A good story with plenty of twists, good subtle delivery resulting in heaps of laughs both visually and verbally.
‘Jump’ directed by Johnny Grim
Arthur Brain (Kallum Mansfield – excellent) has come to end of his tether and decided to end his life. As he stands on the edge of a high building, the crowd gathers. One boisterous bystander, sadly a West Ham supporter (Adrian O’Neill) is poised, waiting for the final moment.
The police arrive, with their smooth-talking negotiation, will they be in time to save this desperate man?
Sick humour, but I could imagine it being very true to life. Again, very good dialogue – the odd expletive – but with a novel theme. Very well performed.
‘C.L.A.’ directed by Sinéad Bevan
In the local police station, under the supervision of two young constables (Theo Rea and Stephanie Butler) a hardened criminal, Peter Williams (Rory Innes - superb) is awaiting the arrival of his legal representation. His lawyer is not your standard brief; Williams has the best, non other than Miss Pendleton-Bradbury (Mitch Wallace - terrific) of the CLA.
Yet another completely different genre. Quite serious in its concept but again, thanks to fine direction and a strong cast, this situation takes the micky out of true life.
Johnny Grim is well known for his generosity in amateur theatre. Here he has written three short plays, and given the direction of one play to a virgin director, and another to a young director tackling humour for the first time. In his cast of eleven, several are on stage for the first time. Although there were some slight first-night nerves (quickly overcome) when the curtain-up had to be delayed for half an hour, due to the nearby Town Hall fire blocking the main road. Not a single member of the team let him down. His big-heartedness in giving folk a chance paid off.
The teching was above average. Lighting three very different sets and diverse themes with basic equipment was tricky but sucessful (Hywell Williams – yes he is back!). Excellent sound from Rob Harwood.
A couple of hours of zany, well-written humour delivered with aplomb. Another winner from Johnny.
The play opened at the 140-tiered seat Camelot Theatre, 16 Lochee Street, Mosman Park where it runs nightly until the 20th November, with a matinee at 2.00 pm on Sunday 21st..
The play then moves to the comfortable, newly rescued, 200-seat Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Forest Lakes Shopping Centre complex, Murdoch Road in Thornlie, where it will show nightly on the 26th and 27th.
The production finishes the season at Midland Junction Arts Centre, 276 Great Eastern Highway, Midland. Again, with the evening performances being at 8.00 pm on 2nd, 3rd and 4th December and a Sunday matinee at 2.00 pm on the 5th December.
Two British Bobbies (Tony Clarke and Johnny Grim) wander into the auditorium and tell us how they have been brought over from Britain, at great expense, to advise the WA police, and inform the public of London Metropolitan police life. Anyone who used to be a ‘Bill’ fan would know of the Cockney ‘f’ replacing the ‘th’, this has been employed to give authenticity and added humour to this already madcap presentation.
The first short play (the term ‘sketch’ doesn’t really do the script justice) is: -
‘Meow’ directed by John Bevan
The police have been called around to a back garden in North London, where an old fella, Fred (Alan Malcolm) is having his wounds dressed by a nurse (Emily Criddle). Peering over the fence is Mrs Hampson (Barbara Walton), the interfering old bat next-door. Constable Platt (Jonathan Young) is trying to sort out the shambles which started with a minor traffic accident, but had a devastating effect upon Fred’s wife Doris (John Bevan).
A good story with plenty of twists, good subtle delivery resulting in heaps of laughs both visually and verbally.
‘Jump’ directed by Johnny Grim
Arthur Brain (Kallum Mansfield – excellent) has come to end of his tether and decided to end his life. As he stands on the edge of a high building, the crowd gathers. One boisterous bystander, sadly a West Ham supporter (Adrian O’Neill) is poised, waiting for the final moment.
The police arrive, with their smooth-talking negotiation, will they be in time to save this desperate man?
Sick humour, but I could imagine it being very true to life. Again, very good dialogue – the odd expletive – but with a novel theme. Very well performed.
‘C.L.A.’ directed by Sinéad Bevan
In the local police station, under the supervision of two young constables (Theo Rea and Stephanie Butler) a hardened criminal, Peter Williams (Rory Innes - superb) is awaiting the arrival of his legal representation. His lawyer is not your standard brief; Williams has the best, non other than Miss Pendleton-Bradbury (Mitch Wallace - terrific) of the CLA.
Yet another completely different genre. Quite serious in its concept but again, thanks to fine direction and a strong cast, this situation takes the micky out of true life.
Johnny Grim is well known for his generosity in amateur theatre. Here he has written three short plays, and given the direction of one play to a virgin director, and another to a young director tackling humour for the first time. In his cast of eleven, several are on stage for the first time. Although there were some slight first-night nerves (quickly overcome) when the curtain-up had to be delayed for half an hour, due to the nearby Town Hall fire blocking the main road. Not a single member of the team let him down. His big-heartedness in giving folk a chance paid off.
The teching was above average. Lighting three very different sets and diverse themes with basic equipment was tricky but sucessful (Hywell Williams – yes he is back!). Excellent sound from Rob Harwood.
A couple of hours of zany, well-written humour delivered with aplomb. Another winner from Johnny.