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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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Laughter at the double The 39 Steps The Grange Players Grange Playhouse, Walsall **** FOUR people play a total of about 130 remarkable characters in this madcap stage version of the famous Alfred Hitchcock film from way back in 1935. It's an hilarious send-up, performed at a
breathtaking pace that leaves the small cast drained but triumphant at
the end of each performance. Dexter Whitehead is superb as stiff-upper-lipped,
pipe-smoking Brit Richard Hannay who gets caught up in a dangerous
life-threatening adventure after bumping into seductive female spy
Annabella Schmidt during a London theatre performance interrupted by
gunshots. The chance meeting triggers a string of incidents
involving villains, heroes, policemen who dash up and down the theatre
aisle with tracker dogs (toy ones) on leads, a desperate pursuit through
the girders of the Forth Bridge and, with the aid of puppets, Hannay
crosses a Scottish lock on the back of a large friendly green animal (kermit
the frog). Christina Peak is excellent as Annabella, making an early exit with a kitchen knife in her back, then re-appearing later as Pamela, the woman in the train, and Margaret, young wife of a strange Scottish farmer who tips off the police about the fugitive under his roof, but Hannah escapes through a window frame, wearing the farmer's overcoat. Step one:
Dexter Whitehead (Richard Hannay)
and Christina Peak (the soon to be late Annabella Schmidt) at the start
of Hannay's spiffing adventure
Later a prayer-book in the coat pocket stops a bullet which at
first appeared to have killed our hero. There is a very amusing scene when Hannay and
Pamela are handcuffed together hiding in a hotel bedroom and she has to
somehow unfasten her suspenders and remove her stockings But two of the busiest people on stage are
without doubt Joe Cryan and Adam Worton, brilliant in a string of roles,
including police constables, detectives, killers, stage performers and a
railway guard. Cryan is particularly impressive playing
the theatre star Mr Memory, though he might consider reducing his
repetitive tendency to stick out his tongue during his facial
contortions in some of his other characters. The sets are cleverly created by the use of
window frames, doors and an armchair on castors, and even chairs and a
lectern become a car for a high speed journey. Sound and lighting
skilfully operated by Kerry Frater and Martin Westwood add to the
enjoyment of a happy show which the audience clearly love. Directed by Ian Eaton and produced by Chris
Waters, The 39 Steps - based on a novel by John Buchan and adapted by
Patrick Barlow - runs to 26.05.12. A very impressive production as part
of the players' 60th anniversary season. Paul Marston |
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