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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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Classy treatment of a classic Arsenic & Old Lace The Grange Players Grange Playhouse, Walsall ***** YOU could almost die laughing at this
classic black comedy by Joseph Kesselring, beautifully acted by the cast
of a company celebrating its 60th anniversary season. The story was made into a 1941 film starring Cary
Grant, but it is perfect for the stage in 2012 and you have to feel
sympathy for the 100-plus people on the waiting list for any returned
tickets even after an extra performance has been arranged for the
sell-out production. Set in Brooklyn, New York, the story involves two
seemingly charming old spinster sisters with a taste for murder, and
three unusual nephews, one a killer on the run with his own
feature-changing plastic surgeon in tow, and another who believes he is
President Roosevelt. It is staged - somewhat ironically - in the
'living' room of the old dears' home where bodies are piling up in the
cellar and the only apparently sane member of the homicidal family -
theatre critic Mortimer Brewster - stumbles on the sinister secret which
upsets his wedding plans in case he has the disease. Gary Pritchard is excellent as Mortimer, almost
going out of his mind trying to resolve the situation and fearing for
his own sanity while causing the love of his life, Elaine Harper (Becki
Jay) to wonder just what is happening to her boyfriend, a hatchet man of
critics. SWEETLY MISGUIDED There are delightful performances from Mary
Whitehouse and Sheila Grew, the lethal sisters Abby and Martha Brewster.
So sweetly misguided they think telling a fib is worse than serving
lethal elderberry wine - laced with arsenic, strychnine and a pinch of
cyanide - to lonely old men whose bodies are dispatched to the cellar,
known as the Panama Canal. Terrific contributions, too, from Martin Groves
(the crackpot bugle-playing Teddy Brewster), Peter Smith (killer crook
Jonathan Brewster), and David Stone (weirdo surgeon Dr Einstein). Smith provides genuine menace as the family's
other serial killer who ends up as a Boris Karloff lookalike competing
with his aunts in a kind of league table of murder. Alongside him, Stone
is a hoot in his role of the nutty surgeon with a German accent of
sorts, ready with his bag of surgical implements to change the features
of his boss as they attempt to avoid arrest. There's a lovely end to the tale as Graham Smith,
playing the detective Lieutenant Rooney, laughingly brushes aside
suggestions that a dozen bodies are buried in the old dears' cellar as
he preens himself on the capture of the most-wanted Jonathan Brewster,
and the sweet sisters ply a final drink to the mental home
superintendent, Mr Witherspoon (Terry Atkinson) who is arranging for
their admission to a place of safety! Other members of an outstanding cast are Robert
Onions (Officer O'Hara), Adrian Venables (Officer Brophy), Liam
Matthews-Dibbins (Officer Klein), Brian Lycett (Rev Dr Harper) and Alex
Barzdo (Mr Gibbs) The action takes place on a stunning set designed
by Martin Groves and the play's excellent director Rosemary Manjunath.
Jane James produces Arsenic & Old Lace which is guaranteed to kill off
any feelings of depression in the audience. To 21.01.12 Paul Marston |
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