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Lark Rise
to Candleford Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton ****
Bill Kenwright's
production of Lark Rise to Candleford is good, but not great. This
revival of Keith Dewhurst's stage adapation of the first
semi-autobiographical book by Flora Thompson is set in a sleepy village
in the Oxfordshire countryside of the 1800s and is billed as creating a
moving and evocative picture of a forgotten England. The
acting, vocal talents and musical ability of the high profile cast are
undeniable and there are some fine moments, but the show never seems to
get going; merely meandering through one day in the life of young Laura
Timms (Becci Gemmell); along the way delivering a potted history of the
late 19th
century to the outbreak of WW1.
For fans of the TV programme
the stage adaptation of the book doesn't hold the same charm. There are
some familiar characters and some amusement is to be had, but much
humour is lost through the thick, mixed, enthusiastic accents.
Laura tells us she isn't sure
why she remembers this day above any other. Well, I suspect that
more happened on this day, the first day of harvest, than on any other
before or since. We see the old soldier whipped off to the poor house,
Twister has something very special to show Emma (Sara Crowe -
pictured right), Soldier Price returns after five
years in the service of his Queen, the Timms' children traipse around
the county with their 12-year old-job-hunting friend (life was so much
better then, don't you agree?) where they encounter a bewitched tree and
every hawker in the county comes to the village to ply their wares.
The day is rounded off with a pint or two in the tap room at the Wagon
and Horses with political exchanges, a good old knees-up and everyone
doing a turn. All this with a catalogue of wonderful, foot-tapping
folkie songs created by Ashley Hutchings of Fairport Convention and
Steeleye Span fame. I was left feeling luke warm
and, judging by the reaction of the audience, they felt pretty much the
same. There are a couple of excellent scenes and performances of
note from Adrian Metcalfe (Boamer, Old Postie, Tramp) with a rousing
tune as the fishmonger and Elizabeth Marsh is strong as gossiping Mrs
Andrews, Mrs Spicer, Mrs Beamis and Chad Gubbins. The awkward
conversation between the squire (Eric Richard) and Soldier Price left me
feeling suitably squirmish. If you are a sucker for the
incidentals, the sound and lighting won't disappoint. The opening
sunrise, the call of skylark, the caw of the crow and closing sunset and
the drum beat capturing the horrifying clamour of war all added hugely
to the overall feel of the story. On Monday evening, weather
conditions meant that costumes and set were stranded in Scotland, the
cast overcame all odds to bring us a show in black and white. Adding
full colour didn't improve the show it was just different and, if
anything, detracted as Monday's performance held the promise that the
show could get better. The show closed to a rather
short polite applause. Lynda
Ford
Second slow rising . . . . *
THERE are some interesting characters in this stage adaptation of the
award-winning BBC TV series, but you never really get to know much about
them before the play ends. The action tends to drift
gently along with no powerful story line, and if, like me, you hadn't
seen the telly version, you are left wondering what it's all about. Having said that, even some
people I spoke to in the theatre at the second performance who were fans
of the TV show, also felt disappointed. So for the first nighters it
may have been even more baffling because the actors had to perform
without costumes or set, which were on a lorry trapped by the weather
somewhere in Scotland. A shame that, because the
costumes were excellent and the set - a wooden pavement sweeping up and
down, with props like chairs, crockery and even a drum below - worked
particularly well. Seen through the eyes of young
Laura Timms (Becci Gemmell), the play follows a day in the life and
relationships of farm workers, craftsmen and gentry in the fictional
hamlet of Lark Rise at the end of the 19th century. I enjoyed the various
traditional songs and music played by some members of the cast on
violin, guitar and accordian, and the final scene where some of the men
were depicted going to a war from which they wouldn't return, was
moving. Directed by Joe Harmston, Lark
Rise comes to rest on Saturday night 04-12-10 Paul
Marston
Snowfall puts Candleford into the black ***** (to the cast for putting on a show and for the Grand for looking after its customers) YOU
have all heard the term ‘the show must go on' and in the best of British
traditions, so it did.
With costumes and
scenery stranded somewhere in the north of the border in the snowy
depths of Scotland, the cast of Larkrise to Candleford decided to
continue with first night performance dressed in black in a black box.
Theatre Chief
Executive, Peter Cutchie, commented that “the unique, dramatic
experience” would be “an engaging and enjoyable performance experience”.
It certainly was. He also extended an invitation to the audience
to return on an evening of their choice to see the show again.
The show put me in mind of a
Christmas cake with no icing, quality ingredients but none of the
frills. The thespians relied on the tools of their trade, their
acting skills with excellent characterisations. Considering that
some members of the cast did, in fact, play two or more parts we were
left with no doubt who the different characters were and old favourites
such as Twister were faithfully represented. It would be most unfair
to single out any one performance under the circumstances.
The great news is the lorry
has now arrived safely and tonight's
(Tuesday) performance will be take place as planned
although Jonathan Anstell will not be appearing as
his wife has just had a baby. So for making the evening worthwhile - well done everyone.
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