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Orpheus
Birmingham Rep Studio
***** IT’S not often
that a theatre company are capable of fully transporting you into
another era but The Little Bulb Theatre company have created something
of a time machine with their production of Orpheus and this tragic love
story of his journey into the underworld. This feat is achieved by recreating the
entertaining atmosphere of a musical evening, set in a 1920s Parisian
café. In between some of the resident’s performer’s musical numbers,
they find time for a musical play based on the love story of Orpheus and
Eurydice. It’s a remarkable achievement with moments of
genuine Parisian authenticity, vaudeville comedy and high drama. Even
though the play is hammed up to its melodramatic extremes, Little Bulb
still succeeds in creating real empathy in the telling of their story. This Parisian café also has a special guest with
the incl Yvette Pepin is the cafes welcoming host slipping
effortlessly between renditions of Edith Piaf’s songs, introducing the
performances, flute solos and playing the role of Eurydice. This role
was delivered effortlessly by Eugenie Pastor, creating a quite lovable
and manic character in Yvette complete with made up eyebrows that would
outperform most other actors alone.
Dominic Conway was Django delivering some
fantastic guitar work throughout the evening and striding around
gesturing like a matador yet never speaking a word whilst playing the
role of Orpheus. The trio of Clare Beresford on Double bass,
Miriam Gould on Violin and Shamira Turner on accordion were the ladies
of the clubs resident band and also many of the plays other characters.
Alongside their musical talent they added some beautiful harmony with
their singing in the Orpheus story. Tom Penn on percussion
and Alexander Scott on clarinet, who directed, both also engage in a
multitude of other roles. Finally Charlie Penn played piano and at one
point delivered a delightful performance of Debussy’s
Clair de Lune
making the fated lover’s first meeting hard to watch in the centre of
the stage as he was in full view and perfect fully matched his playing
to the live action throughout the night. Orpheus is a delightfully rich, varied and
engaging piece of theatre and it as it was written and devised by the
company it fully employs the outstanding skillset of this inventive and
very original company. This co-production with Battersea Arts Centre is
a journey well worth taking and adds yet another quality milestone to
this young company’s highly acclaimed development. To 31-10-15. Jeff Grant
29-10-15
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usion
of the gypsy guitarist Django Reinhart. He is asked to play out the part
of Orpheus in the establishments show and it’s quite a star billing for
the staff, especially the ladies who are enamoured by his famous
presence.