Catherine Bennett resumes the weekly look at the performing arts world, with the sad end of Jerusalem, the luck of a cabbie, and French revolt. Do you hear the people sing?
Adam Alcock reviews Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons and his own Four Elements at York Opera House.
Catherine Bennett highlights the trends in the performing arts world today.
Jonathan Cridford reviews 'Ghosts', one of the Freshers' plays for this year.
Reclining in the (unusually) balmy evening air, students were spellbound by Student Action’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Champagne was replaced by cider and caviar with Tesco value crisps when students flocked to York’s very own open-air theatre. Stories of romantic mix-ups will always have a sordid appeal to students and this one satisfied.
The Amy Winehouse-esque beehive hair of Hippolyta (Beth Vale) greeted us as Chris Andrews’ Theseus ordered a spectacle of entertainments (and that we received). “The course of true love never did run smooth” definitely took on meaning with the grovelling desperation of Annie Duffield’s Helena: reduced to literally falling at the feet of Demetrius and holding on for dear life as long-legged James Townsend strolled immaculately round the stage, she took a few bumps and bruises.
A rather unsprightly Puck could perhaps have put a little more effort into being the fun-loving, mischievous meddler but Titania’s (Katharina Auersberg) entrance, clouded in a mesmerising quartet of fairies, brought an air of elegance to the performance. Nymphs in gold satin floated down Vanbrugh Bowl with the utmost of poise and grace (though the singing left a little to be desired).
However, the acoustics did this production a huge injustice. While the visual display was fun and frivolous, and while this play is, in many ways, so perfectly suited to an outdoor setting, unfortunately, much of the cast’s hard work was simply lost to the open air.
Despite this, the project remains a success, in my eyes, as a fantastic way of letting students know that Student Action successfully participates in all sorts of areas, aside from being a damn good excuse for a picnic!
I think the cast are worth a bit more of a mention really. James Townsend and (sad as it makes me to admit this) Henry Foy were absolutely terrific in particular.
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