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.
The original and devised production, You can't control the way your iPod shuffles, went down a storm with the audience members who attended the dress rehearsal for the latest play at the Drama Barn.
This was a laugh-a-minute comedy, mixing farcical and deadpan elements to create a brilliant and innovative production. The play is centred around all the aspects of a student night out and the stereotypes that have become part and parcel of this experience. It began with a humerous seduction guide which, despite giving anything but the right advice, was avidly listened to by the characters. It proved to be the starting point for many sketches which were based around men and women getting it wrong when it comes to communicating with each other.
Superb observations allowed us all to identify with the characters and easily recognise their situations. For instance, some pre-conceived myths about how women like to be flirted with were exploited to the full, in a really cringe worthy scene which featured the geeky Ross Meikle using all the wrong chat up lines. Another great piece of observation was highlighted through Bex Darmody's portrayal of a woman paranoid about her boyfriend's infidelity. Another woman comes over and asks her boyfriend to pass the vinegar, and, naturally, he gives it to her. However, Darmody's character sees this as evidence of an affair and goes off into a tearful rant about how he will 'sleep with the vinegar woman.'
Some great farcical elements were also used. The cast took these moments right up to the limit of being too ridiculous but, skilfully, managed never to cross the line. In one instance an argument between a man and woman is about break out, so two barmen become boxing commentators and dramatically observe how each person is trying to break the other one down. Another sketch is set in A&E and features a man wanting to have a pepper shaker removed from his anus. However as the doctor examines him we all realise that he had more items stuck up there than was originally believed.
You can't control how your iPod shuffles blew me away with some hilarious sketches throughout. It is indeed rare to see this sort of theatre nowadays; many comedies take a whole act to build up a subtle joke. So it became an absolute treat to witness a piece which aimed to make the audience laugh almost constantly. As well as this it had no real message or points we were forced to consider; it was simply pure hilarity from start to finish.
I would thoroughly encourage any student who partakes in a night out to come the Drama Barn this weekend to have a big laugh at themselves and their behaviour.
You can't control how you iPod shuffles is on at the Drama Barn from Friday 19 June - Sunday 21 June. Tickets should be available on the door. Doors open 19:30. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
comment deleted by the author Er... Dan, weren't you IN this production?
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