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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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Two’s a lot of company
Two
The Nonentities
***** JIM Cartwright’s two-handed play is a considerable acting challenge for any company. It’s rare to see it staged by an amateur group
mainly because of its need for only two performers and the sheer level
of work and skill they need to deliver the range of characters and
emotions well enough to effectively convey this microcosm of Northern
working-class life. Fortunately The Nonentities have risen to the
challenge and have delivered a mature and thoughtful production that
fully captures the complex relationships of the revellers inside this
80s pub. Director Marika Farr is fortunate to have Stephen
Fletcher and Sinead Maffei as her leads as between them they depict the
locals, both young and old, good and bad, who are all at some differing
stage of their respective relationships. At the heart of the establishment are the
landlady and landlord who are both burying a tragic memory that comes to
an explosive conclusion as time is called on the evening’s drinking. There are all types stopping by, like an old lady
who talks of the drudgery of caring for her infirm elderly husband back
at home, or the inoffensive couple Fred and Alice content with their
normal life. Then we have the extreme contrast of the jealous and
vicious Roy controlling the meek and bullied Leslie into a frightened
life of servitude. Perhaps Stephen Fletchers most amusing part is as
womaniser Moth who is constantly repairing his relationship with his
doting girlfriend as he is more interested in her purse than remaining
faithful. Sinead Maffei revelled in the mostly monologue
parts particularly the lusty portrayal of Mrs Iger fantasising over `Big
men ‘whom her weak husband clearly is not. There are more to be seen, fourteen people in
fact during the course of the play and the actors never flinch once,
hold back or slip up during any of the long monologues, biting satire or
tragic arguments contained in their respective male or female
characters. All of this is played out in the tiny studio
space and include a few moments of direct audience inclusion which adds
to the proximity and bravery of the performances. The set is realistic and well thought out
allowing different parts of the audience to get close up to the
characters at different stages of the evening. The last time I saw this pairing of Fletcher and
Maffei was coincidently in a bar room setting during The Weir at
The Rose theatre and that performance remains for me, one of the most
memorable I have seen on the Midland amateur stage in recent years . Compared to that, Two is a very different
production and whilst not entirely perfect is yet another high quality
and enjoyable production which can be added to the company’s portfolio. That quality stems from two very fine
performances and some excellent direction making it worth you dropping
in for a quick one. You are guaranteed to find a part of us all among
the company of characters who step through the doors of the busy public
house that is Two. To 25-04-15 Jeff Grant
20-04-15 |
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