★★★★☆ “Help… I need somebody” Viki Browne ends her performance to a rather bubbly Beatles soundtrack, bathed in the affection of her audience. Back at the beginning of the show she proclaims: “It started in a magnolia bush in 2013…” We already sense it’s a personal story because Viki greets us as we enter . . .
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Extracurricular is a column that gives the opportunity for StageTalk Magazine to discuss shows or other events which fall outside our normal remit. On a recent visit to The National Theatre in The Hague we saw an excellent Shakespeare influenced one-man show by American actor Stephan Wolfert called CRY HAVOC! which was presented by STET, The English Theatre in that city.
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★★☆☆☆ The show suffered from being under rehearsed and the actors looked uncomfortable at times, though by the time it goes on the road it will no doubt have the opportunity to tighten up and relax. What was written as a bit of a lark has some nice ideas whilst a bit more of a guiding hand is needed to harness the flashes of creative potential.
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★★★★★ In terms of WWI narratives, one of the things that sets Birdsong apart is its focus on the sappers. As much as you see the suicidal endeavour of going over the top, a lot more of the wartime experience here is about being trapped underground in dim, sweltering tunnels. . . Tim Treloar as Jack Firebrace, the nominal leader of the sappers, is outstanding.
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★★★★☆ The staging is skilful: the actors use all the generous performance area at Circomedia, props and effects are efficiently utilised, and the lighting and sound is judicious and effective.
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★★★★☆ A Dangerous Woman, one of the show’s elements, is a powerful telling of the story of Alice Wheeldon, a committed socialist, suffragette and peace activist, known to be harbouring conscientious objectors on the run at her home in Derby. She was to become a target of MI5, who sent an agent posing as another ‘conchie’.
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