David Porter » Archive
See How They Run
See How They Run is a farce by Open Space Theatre company, performed at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft, April 2017. Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 24 April 2017 To stage a classic, traditional, fast-paced, highly energetic romping farce well is a challenge for any theatre company. Open Space proved themselves more than up to it when they brought ‘See How They Run’ to Lowestoft’s Seagull Theatre on their latest regional tour. The company has created a richly varied back catalogue of productions from Chekhov and Ibsen to Alan Bennett and now this old Philip King favourite from wartime Britain, gently mocking and reminding us of changed times and long-gone social mores. Director David Green has a knack for capturing the absurdities of mistaken identities, ludicrous vicars, alcohol, doors and entrances and frantic, mad-cap … Read entire article »
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Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone at East Point Academy, Lowestoft Bugsy Malone is one of those marvellous creations – a piece of fun-filled, light-hearted, joyful nonsense that’s stood the test of time (it was first around as a film in 1976) and is accessible to all ages. In the hands of the production team led by the indomitable Jo Gilbert, East Point Academy did a wonderful job in bringing sheer entertainment to large and enthusiastic audiences. Set very loosely in the speakeasies and alleys of Prohibition-era Chicago, it revolves round rival gangsters, hoodlums, undesirables, loose women, death dealt by cream pies and splurge guns and a couple of incompetent cops. It packs some favourite songs, such as ‘My Name Is Tallulah’, ‘Tomorrow’, ‘So You Wanna Be a Boxer’, ‘Down and Out’, ‘Fat Sam’s Grand Slam’ and the … Read entire article »
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A Christmas Spectacular 2016
A Christmas Spectacular by the Lowestoft Players, in their Bethel Theatre Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 5th December 2016 and The Lowestoft Journal, 9 December 2016 Christmas, coming as it does ever earlier and ever more commercial, is likely to bring out the inner Scrooge in many of us. The Lowestoft Players’ annual spectacular seasonal variety show is the perfect antidote to that. There is something about the warm atmosphere of the Players’ Bethel theatre, lights, effects, magnificent costumes, superb singing, dancing and comedy routines – some new, some old and some new takes on old favourites – that is heart-warming and feel-good. Directed by Lauren Nevill and Polly Woodward, with choreography by Emily Fox and musical direction by Krista Ribbons, this year’s bumper show has a versatile and energetic main company … Read entire article »
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A Doll’s House
A Dolls’ House performed by Open Space Theatre group at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 21 November 2016 and The Lowestoft Journal, 25 November 2016 A Doll’s House, Ibsen’s dark classic drama, is less about a woman’s rights than her need to discover who she is without reference to men’s control and approval. The central character played by Cathy Gill in a performance that should be shown to acting students, leaves her husband, his ‘dolls’’ house and their children in what was in the 1870s, deeply shocking. She does this after the consequences of her own lies to cover up an intended good act begin to emerge with devastating effect and more potently, her own husband’s (excellently unlikeable Darren France) blatant hypocrisy and double standards stun her. Peter Sowerbutts, … Read entire article »
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Dracula
Dracula presented by the Old Time Radio Club at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 1 November 2016 and The Lowestoft Journal, 4 November 2016 Dracula was an ideal spooky yarn to mark both the Hallowe’en season and the Old Time Radio Club’s return to the Seagull Theatre. Bram Stoker’s enduring Dracula was presented as in an old time classic radio studio style with live musical accompaniment from the show’s producer, Richard Ainslie. The set was an interesting studio layout by Lilla Read and Harry Cooke. David Higgins made all the sound effects live and Richard Melchior wrote and took part in the compelling story. The other performers were Chris Whiting, Lee Jackson, Becca Martin, Erin Girling, Thom Bailey and David Emerson who shared the characters with cleverly articulated voices. The … Read entire article »
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Hay Fever
Hay Fever performed by Yakety Yak Theatre, at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 31 October 2016 and The Lowestoft Journal, 4 November 2016 Hay Fever is the Noel Coward play he himself described as difficult to act with no plot and remarkably little action. However, Yakety Yak successfully transform heavy stylised comedy that is rooted in the 1920s into a timeless gem. Set in the bohemian house of the Bliss family, each has invited a guest for the weekend without telling the others. They proceed to humiliate and generally confuse their visitors while playing startling mind games. Agnes Lillis is the magnificent mother, a retired actress who has yet to give up over-acting and histrionics. Geir Madland is her masterfully understated husband. Tom Scannell plays the son of the house who … Read entire article »
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Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde and Nerve, two one act plays performed by Reverend Theatre Productions at the Bungay Fisher Theatre This review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 15 October 2016 Jekyll & Hyde, the much-loved classic gothic horror tale from the pen of Robert Louis Stevenson, has long been a rich source of dramatic ideas from the dark side of the human soul. In this contemporary take on madness and pressure, Reverend Theatre brought to life four characters (a surgeon, her new neighbour, her brother and his carer) experiencing the consequences of sexuality, claustrophobic space and the unbearable pain of one slowly dying from motor neurone disease. After Jekyll & Hyde the same performers presented another short play, Nerve, set in a flat with unusual characters – an edgy youngster, her pregnant friend, a … Read entire article »
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Slyghtly Hystorical
Slyghtly Hystorical presented by Charmed Life at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 28 September 2016 ‘Slyghtly Hystorical’ was the clever comedic, theatrical, fun nonsense staged by Charmed Life Productions to mark 10 years of Bungay’s reborn Fisher Theatre. It’s an achievement well celebrated in play that raised a host of historical people with connections to this ‘fine town of renown’ who left their footprints on Bungay. Tim Hall played David Fisher, the impresario out of his depth trying to stage ‘Hamlet’. Dawn Briggs was an earthy Boudicca, Josh Gould portrayed martyred King Edmund and a lofty Ethel Mann while Sarah Curtis was Eliza Bonhote and the Buttercross’s justice statue. Lawrie Hammond was a swashbuckling H Rider Haggard and painter Munnings, Mark Burridge the hilarious love-sick French Vicomte Chateaubriand with … Read entire article »
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Spamalot
Spamalot by the Lowestoft Players at the Bethel Theatre, Lowestoft Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 12 September 2016 and The Lowestoft Journal, 16 September 2016 Spamalot, ‘lovingly ripped off’ from the ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ movie, is a joyful feast of fun, surreal madness, random allusions from history, politics, literature, in a knock-out panto-cum-musical. Lowestoft Players, in the run-up to their 50th anniversary, create a stunning evening out with brilliant costumes, terrific music, exquisite choreography, quality singing, professional standard direction/production and outstanding performances. It seems unfair in such an ensemble of monks, minstrels, guards and girls of the lake to single out individuals, but Chris Darnell as King Arthur perfectly catches the buffoonery while Beth Lewis shines as the diva in a part she was born for – she is just … Read entire article »
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Sister Act
Sister Act at the Lowestoft Players at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 9 June 2016 and the Lowestoft Journal, 17 June 2016 Sister Act, the hit film-inspired musical, is the perfect vehicle for the Lowestoft Players’ summer show with its high energy, implausible story line that lends itself to daft comedy antics, rocky music and unadulterated fun. It’s a team triumph for the multi-award winning Players who grab its opportunities with both hands from directors and principals to chorus/ensemble, from musicians and stage crew to the terrific dance routines, some based on Motown. Lauren Nevill beats the challenge of the gangster’s moll who, while seeking sanctuary in a nunnery, sets the church on fire with her singing and racy ways. Judi Mars is the perfect straitlaced Mother … Read entire article »
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