I’m shocked to see that it’s a good two months since I last posted here. This is not because I’ve been idle – on the contrary, I’ve been run ragged. But I guess that most of my busyness has been business related (see what I did there?). It’s not that I’ve done nothing theatrical, just that I’ve not managed to find the time to write about it. So this is an attempt to fill in the gaps!
First, I must mention the fab ‘extra performance’ that I saw at Grove Park Theatre a while back: Tales from the Street, by the Bootleg Theatre Company. This was a show comprising four monologues by four different writers reflecting the out-of-office-hours lives of four very different characters. It took place in GPT’s bar and, although the audience was small, was very well received – and deservedly so. The four pieces gave us insights into lives as varied as a homeless lad, a nursing student turned prostitute, an alcoholic, and a burglar doing time.
The monologues were superbly performed, in one instance by the author herself, and provided a fantastic reminder that a fancy set is not necessary to tell a good story. This is something I will undoubtedly come back to in future posts! All that is needed to engage an audience is a story and the ability to tell it. Staging, lighting and sound effects are fab, especially when done well, but at the heart of what I love about drama is the simple story – taking the audience from ignorance through enlightenment to understanding – or, indeed, disagreement. It’s amazing how effective a single person talking can be. More of this, please.
Next up was Grove Park’s production of Time of My Life by Alan Ayckbourn. I’d almost thought of auditioning for this myself, but didn’t – so it’s always good to see a show where the actors do as good a job (or even better…) than you know you could have done yourself! The action takes place in a typically-for-Ayckbourn confusing setting: one central scene depicting a family birthday meal at a local restaurant, plus two additional plotlines featuring four of the characters’ individual stories, one couple moving forward into the future, the other regressing backwards into the past. It’s a great device for showing how the different relationships have developed and gives the audience an additional level of understanding about how the main ‘present’ scenario has come about – and what is to come.
I loved the set – reminiscent of many a generic Mediterranean-style restaurant – and would also like to give a special mention to Neil Wright, who played the various members of the restaurant-owning family with great attention to detail: all the different characters had their own quirks, beautifully played. And directed by Ade Garratt – what more could a girl ask for? Lovely stuff.
Finally, my most recent involvement with Grove Park has been prompting at rehearsals for their next production: Lovers: Winners and Losers, by Brian Friel. The director, Brian Gilbert (memorably seen as King George in The Madness of George III), has decided not to have prompters for the run of the play – a decision taken by more and more directors at GPT these days – but he felt it would be a help at rehearsals. I’ve been sharing this job with a new-ish member, Gill Lewis, and, never having prompted before, have found it to be a mixed bag of fun!
In the early rehearsals the prompter’s role is much greater – only to be expected, as it takes a while from putting books down to being totally familiar with the lines. As the rehearsals have progressed, my input has been less needed. You become familiar with the pauses, the long pauses, and the veeeery loooong pauses, and at this stage it’s only when an actor says ‘prompt’ or ‘line’ that you realise they’ve gone blank and need help.
We’ve had fabulous rehearsals and terrible rehearsals, but now, with just over a week to go until opening night, I can happily say they are ready for an audience. I will blog again once the production is underway (and I have a chance to see it as a regular audience member), but I would urge you to buy your tickets now if you don’t want to miss out. Again, it’s a simple but effective set, and the stories of two couples are told with breathtaking, heartbreaking pathos by an extremely talented cast. Go see it 🙂
Next on my list: Blithe Spirit at the Forum Studio Theatre… Can’t wait!