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Brassed Off
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
***** THIS really is a two-for-the-price-of-one
bargain for theatregoers, with an emotion-charged play boosted by
exciting music from a quality brass band. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the
bitter miners’ strike, the Touring Consortium Theatre Company are
staging the latest version of a story which clearly shows the damaging
effect government policy on pit closures had on individuals, families
and communities. Set in fictional northern town of Grimley, the
play deals with the threat to shut down the local colliery, the
difficult choice faced by miners who could pick up a redundancy payment
or fight to save their jobs, and fears that the situation might destroy
the popular brass band. An excellent cast get the message across
powerfully on a fine set, sometimes using a bit of industrial language,
and while the plot is poignant and sad – even including an attempted
suicide - there is also plenty of humour to provide a balance. John McArdle is convincing as Danny, the band’s
enthusiastic conductor who is suffering from a lung disorder, legacy of
his days underground, but determined to go for the national brass band
championship in spite of the threat to the pit’s future. He has clearly studied the art of conducting,
because his performance with the baton in front of the superb Jackfield
Brass Band is pretty impressive. Fine performances, too, from Andrew Dunn (Phil),
Luke Adamson (his son, Shane), Rebecca Clay (his wife, Sandra) and Clara
Darcy providing the touch of glamour as Gloria, the shapely
granddaughter of a former miner who is at first welcomed by the band
when she turns out to be an accomplished flugelhorn player, but is then
suspected as being a management spy. Based on a screenplay by Mark Herman, adapted by
Paul Allen, Brassed Off goes on to Saturday April 12, and will be at
Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from April 23 – 26. Paul Marston
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