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.
If you're familiar with Kneehigh's work, then you'll know what to expect. This is classic Kneehigh; a fantastic set, hilarious cast, quirky music, and the indescribable atmosphere they consistently achieve. You'll know, like I do, that Kneehigh is addictive, and if you're new to them, then this play will have you hooked.
Starting as a small Cornish production company 25 years ago, Kneehigh have now earned themselves a fantastic reputation nationwide. Innovative, energetic, and enthusiastic, the cast are a joy to watch. The music adds another rich dimension, and the imaginative staging is always a treat.
Based on a combination of the 1945 film and stage play 'Still Life', both by Noel Coward, 'Brief Encounter' tells the story of a love affair between two married people, Alec (Tristan Sturrock) and Laura (Naomi Frederick), following a chance encounter at a railway station. Director Emma Rice brings the story to life with some spectacular staging and special effects, the most memorable being the projection of a life-size train onto the stage during a particularly dramatic scene.
The 1930s inspired stage theme was what excited me most about this production. A huge cinema screen, complete with red velvet curtains, provides a backdrop for the couple to continue their secret meetings. During the interval this acts as a means of showing hilarious faux advertisements, 1930s style ('Hamlet’s cigars, for when she just won’t shut up'). The railway props remain in place permanently, providing a constant reminder to both audience and characters of the couple's first and subsequent meetings, and their guilty secret.
Innovative, energetic, and enthusiastic, the cast are a joy to watch
The relationship between the main couple is very delicately handled, and the characters' physical restraint, despite their obvious passion, creates powerful sexual tension. Their emotions are surrealistically represented using the sound and projection of a crashing wave to signify, quite literally, a wave of emotion. This is just one of many quirky devices Emma Rice uses, the most amusing of which is when the actors shake their cups and saucers in the railway cafe every time a train passes through.
One of the main things you will remember about this play is the music, by composer Stu Barker. Don't worry, it's not some sort of happy-clappy musical; far from it. Armed with harps, ukuleles, banjos and cellos, and dressed in drag (I'm not sure why they always do that...), they provide an eclectic, quirky, and at times, haunting soundtrack. Stuart McLoughlin's vocals are one of the evening's highlights.
Comedy is provided by the sweet romance between ditzy waitress, Beryl (Amanda Lawrence) and cake seller, Stanley (Stuart McLoughlin), plus some other playful additions, such as balloon modelling, trampolines, puppet children, and toy trains.
I can't recommend this play highly enough. Whether you're a seasoned Kneehigh devotee, or completely new to them, 'Brief Encounter' will delight and move you. Oh, and make sure you arrive early; a fantastic rendition of 'Run Rabbit Run' is performed to those who are promptly seated, and stern cinema ushers will curse any late-comers!
Brief Encounter' is now showing at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, until 10th November. Tickets are from as little as £9. More details can be found at http://wyplayhouse.com
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