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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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Muddy Cows
The Nonentities
Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
**** THE intimate setting of the studio at the
Rose would hardly seem a fitting space for a play encompassing the
spaces of a rugby training field and rugby matches through to the antics
in the dressing room, but with great thought and imagination the
Nonentities team brought it off. Muddy Cows
is another fine example of John Godber's talent for well-crafted
portrayals of British Northern life. Here it’s the story of seven female
rugby players; each battling hard, both with keeping their team together
and their much maligned relationships. Scarfield Ladies Rugby Club is struggling under
the lack of support from the men’s club, with the ladies having to chip
in a few pounds every week just to keep the team going. With no kit, no
future and no matches it seems unlikely that they can continue but one
last ditch attempt at playing in a sevens tournament might bring the
glory they are seeking. It falls to captain and trainer Maggie played by
Louise Fulwell to rally the spirits. Maggie is committed to the team
after losing her sister, who was another keen rugby player, to a brain
tumour a few years earlier at the age of 25. Now propped up with pain killers for a dodgy knee
it seems the end of the road of her own playing days and Miss Fulwell
brought a great deal of compassion to the part. To make things worse her star player Jess, played
by Georgie Taylor, has been tempted by an offer from a rival club. Jess
is also under suspicion by Kim, played by Charlotte Mosley who suspects
her of an affair with her philandering husband and together the paring
brought great spirt to the envious back biting in the dressing room. Then there’s solicitor Amber, played by Harriet
Poulton, who sees the club as just an escape and a social event with no
real ambition to take the game seriously. She panics when it seems they
are about to enter the sevens competition knowing she will have to find
some commitment to the team. The power and strength in the line-up comes from
Katy Bell as Fran and Hannah Tolley as Daisy also doubling up as Donna.
Fran is the long suffering wife of her useless husband, doing all
she can to avoid him at home and seems to have an endless supply
of `Dutch courage’ for the women in the dressing room. Daisy is a `couldn’t care less’ larger than life
character chomping through an assortment of cakes and sandwiches and
just gets on with the game without any complaint. Then finally there is
Donna who either arrives late to training or simply just goes off on her
own. It’s really impossible to single anyone out in
this great team effort in their individual performances and as a
company. The play begins rather cleanly with no set, but as the ladies
progress to match day, the mud and the smelly dressing room atmosphere
rises to the great comical and dramatic effect. By the end everyone
seemed to get into the spirt of the game and the play with much more
passion and enthusiasm. Directed by Chris Clarke, Muddy Cows is a tough
ensemble piece to bring off needing good timing and a solid commitment
to their well-drawn parts but the company never dropped the ball and in
the end achieved it though a healthy dose of good old girl power. To
16-04-16 Jeff Grant 12-04-16 Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office on 01564 743745 or online at www.rosetheatre.co.uk |
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