|
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
Foxy work at Highbury Foxfinder
Highbury Theatre Centre
**** HIGHBURY
Players continue to add to their dramatic credential s with a relatively
contemporary work Foxfinder,
Dawn King’s 2011 dystopian British parable. It’s a play that continually
has you drawing your own personal references to modern life, wrapped up
in a sort of nervous, big brother, period drama. It centres on the premise that farming has been
taken over by the Government and farm folk are now vetted and
scrutinised in an ever more personal manner as to their quotas and their
personal lives. One such farm is run by Sam and Judith, a young
couple who have fallen behind with their output and have suffered a
series of misfortunes. This all promotes the arrival of a Mr Bloor, a
young trained government inspector, whose duty it is to report on the
potential infestation of Foxes on the farm. The foxes are more than the creature we know as
they are said to have additional powers that affect the morality and
health of those in their proximity. It’s a mysterious mix of witchcraft and Orwellian
power that brings fear to the common working folk and the potential for
the abuse of power and corruption of the governing officials. In the studio theatre it took a little time
before you could fully grasp the situation but as the details unravel
you feel entwined in the personal space of Sam and Judith’s rickety
cottage and something of a voyeur on some very personal and adult
happenings. The principal roles of Sam and Judith were played
by Jayne Lunn and Mark Natrass who are reunited after their previous co
performance at Highbury in Dusk Rings A bell. Jayne Lunn was
every bit the anxious wife who is facing the introspection of the
Foxfinder and the issues of her recent personal tragedies. Her opposite
Mark matched her in pathos, nicely capturing the personality of simple,
yet experienced man who in the end takes matters into his own hands. Niko Adilypour was William, the Government’s
slimy Foxfinder, literally tortured by the severity of his
indoctrination to serve the law but deviously weak in his ability to
uphold it or his own values. Finally there is Sarah, played by Louise
Grifferty, the neighbour who sheds light on the crumbling political
system and aids in the propaganda of truth. As a company they did a splendid job of
presenting this dark future countryside mystery and did not hold back
from the moments of pure intimacy when they occurred. Foxfinder does not provide any
answers but instead selects an array of real issues such as government
intervention, quangos, and the abuse of power and sets them into an
alternative reality to deliver this brooding tale. Directed by Fay Hatch and with an effective set
by Malcolm Robertshaw and again Mark Natrass, Highbury have proven yet
again that they are cut above other companies when it comes to
presenting new and challenging contemporary works on the amateur stage.
To 07-06-14 Jeff Grant
02-06-14 |
|
|
|