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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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Young at heart - Mrs Horrocks' class in rehearsal Flint Street Nativity
The Nonentities
The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
**** TIM Firth’s
Flint Street Nativity
began life as a TV Comedy first screened in December 1999. It’s a
dramatic compilation of events and facts amassed from Firth’s own family
and his own mother who was a teacher at his school. The story focuses on the classroom of teacher Mrs
Horrocks, who is never seen, but is coordinating the rehearsals and then
the performance of Flint Street school’s nativity play. All of the parts
are played by adults and while the usual primary school conflicts
amongst pupils are there, it’s the fact that its adults acting them out
where the ironic laughter is often found. There are naive reflections of being in love,
pregnancy and where babies come from all comically appearing in the
voices of the adult cast.
While the nativity play starts to take shape
there is an undercurrent of the more difficult adult home life of the
parents that comes out in the conversations of the children. It’s not
easy for adults to play children without it being annoying but the
Nonentities cast managed it with relative ease and the play’s darker
undertone of broken homes gives rise to some of the best laughs. There are too many interrelated stories to
mention but there’s Mary (Rebecca Beckett) who knows all the lines of
the nativity play but is having her part jealously eyed by Gabriel
(Charlotte Moseley) with result that they end up with two baby Jesus. There’s the Angel (Hannah Tolley) bullied by
Gabriel and being made to not converse with the other children.
The wise men are Frankincense (Alex Powell) with
his speech difficulty facing public ridicule and fear at the mere
thought of just pronouncing the word. He is goaded into stage confidence
and the additional use of profanity in his lines by the cardboard boxed
head of the Donkey (David Wakeman). Wiseman Gold, (Hilary Thompson)
seems confused by everything and panicking at almost every request and
task. The geeky loner Star (Chris Kay) waffles on about
the real composition of stars and the absence of his father and hopes
for his Uncle from NASA to appear at the play. The Innkeeper (Simon Hawkins) is in love with the
flowery smell of Mary and yet a bully to Star daring him to do all sorts
of challenges yet sadly recounting the smell of beer and cigarettes in
his home. The sporty Joseph/Herod (Callum Morris) knows
nothing about his part but revels in his imagination of question of
sport and the TV world. It’s all held together sort of by the Narrator
(Mary Field) who calmly tries to explain why the school hall is being
rebuilt and the story of the birth of Jesus. Finally there’s the Shepherd (Pat Gale) a farm
raised child who has a more reality based view on the world, comparing
the Immaculate Conception amusingly to the process any female Cow might
have go through. Director Chris Clarke must have had a tough job
balancing the laughs with the pathos. At times the chaos seemed real and
the fact that the school play is an amateur one masked some timing
issues on the night. Nothing though that detracted from the enjoyment
for the packed audience, who lapped up every moment of this Christmas
pantomime antidote. With Keith Rowland on piano, the play feature
some very funny reworded carols and the addition of the oversize props
and stage set all helped to make some big laughs.
You will not fail to enjoy this trip down memory
lane either remembering your own involvement or your children’s in the
school nativity play and of course the seasonal use of Dressing gowns
and tea towels as essential costume items. To 03-12-16. Jeff Grant 28-11-16 |
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