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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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A world beating performance The Office Dudley Little Theatre, Netherton Arts Centre **** IN THESE days in the scramble for
attention, terms like `world beating' and ` never before seen' are often
a gross exaggeration of the facts, added usually in the necessity to
rise above the tide of a multitude of products and productions. So it's surprising that
when a small amateur theatre company in Dudley, who, when they have
accomplished such a grandiose achievement, leave the superlatives to a
single line inside the programme. For them the modest term ` exclusive
permission' hardly suffices as pulling off the coup of the decade by
staging the first ever version of Ricky Gervais'
The Office. So let's add a little weight to their achievement
by saying in true Frankie Howerd style: this is first time in Dudley .
. . nay the Midlands . . . nay the United Kingdom . . . nay the World. The idea was the brainchild of director of Pru
Warne, who launched an email campaign over several months to writers
Gervais and Merchant. Although the pair were busy in Hollywood, they
finally gave permission to The Dudley Little Theatre Company for this
the first-ever stage version and for the fee of just a few hundred
pounds. Smarm to make you squirm in the shape of David Brent, played by Dave Hutchins With an open licence to create the work the team
set about abridging three episodes to create a single story and have a
done a great job in making a coherent production. Like it or not, David Brent, the irritating boss
of The Office, has become one of the most recognised on TV in recent
years, so anyone taking on the role would have a tough job stepping into
those shoes. That task falls to Dave Hutchins and a splendid
job he did too. He captured all of Brent's awkward mannerisms and fake
office camaraderie and, having a certain physical similarity to Gervais,
was a great choice for the part. Office wallahs Tim and Gareth played by Simon
Hawkins and James Silvers respectively, keep the office banter alive
with the Claire Hetherington as Dawn the dismissive receptionist. This is a cast of 20 people and everyone seemed
to enjoy their opportunity to be part of his first time production. As an adaption it works very well although the
early stages it suffers from a few too many blackouts where presumably
an edit in the programme would have occurred. What makes the production interesting is that
where in the TV series a character might be talking directly to camera
we now have a series of audience facing monologues and interestingly it
exposes the underlying pathos in the writing. There is no middle ground with The Office you
either love or hate it but what Dudley Theatre has done is created a
credible stage play from a TV phenomenon. Even if the World of David Brent is not entirely
your cup of tea its worth going along and giving them your support as
you only have three more nights to say you were at a World premiere in
Dudley of all places. To 11-05-13 Jeff Grant |
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