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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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A window on another world
Skylight Highbury Theatre Centre **** WHEN you take on a David Hare play you
had better be prepared to be taken out of your comfort zone, especially
as performer. On the surface Hares work often seems easy to
define but as his plots unravel you begin to see the multiple layers of
his thinking and where another writer might be happy with the primary
narrative, Hare adds a wider perspective on a range of social issues
that conflict and overlap. Some of the biggest talents on the stage have
taken on Skylight to great success so it's a brave step for the Highbury
Players to take on such a complex play. Kyra is a young woman now living in a rundown
flat. Three years ago she had walked out of an affair that had lasted
six years whilst actually living as a guest in the household of her
married lover. The play is set over a 12 hour period and firstly
the son Edward Sargent, and then her former lover Tom Sargent separately
arrive, both unheralded on one winters night. What follows is a painful
and detailed analysis of their lives, the affair and the people they
have now become. Kyra Hollis is played by Bhupinder Kaur Dhamu.
Kyra is now working as teacher in an inner city school and her work and
circumstances are now her vocation. She's developed a strong independent
view but clearly has regrets about her past. Dhamu crafted a detailed portrait of her
character and showed great range in developing Hare's argument s of the
needs of disadvantaged children in a marginalised inner city education
system. These lofty social aspirations are in complete
contrast to Tom Sargent her former lover played by Martin Walker. Tom is
a successful restaurateur, complete with chauffeur and a Caribbean
summer home. At times Mr Walker stumbled through some of the lines but
the role of Sargent is both contradictory and complex and something of a
challenge yet overall he managed what is a tall order for any actor. John Higgs playing Edward Sargent at first seemed
a little nervous in the intimate space of the studio theatre but opened
and closed the play with confidence. Skylight is a superb piece of writing and whilst
director Alison Cahill kept things on track, she at times missed some of
the tension that might be present in two former lovers meeting for the
first time after years of separation. The best moments came in the full on arguments
when Kyra and Tom go head to head to defend their respective career and
political positions. Both actors seemed free to run with the dialogue
and relished the opportunity to throw a few props around. I was
concerned though when a hand full of cutlery was hurled under a counter
but towards the audience with considerable force. The play is an exceptional observation of the
remnants of two former lives and whilst some of the reasons for why the
rendezvous is happening now are never explained you do get caught up
with the story. Even though some of the layers available within
the play perhaps remain untapped, the Highbury players have delivered
yet another superb dramatic studio production. To 02-03-13. Jeff Grant |
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