David Porter » Reviews » Hitchcock Blonde
Hitchcock Blonde
Hitchcock Blonde
at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich
Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 22 February 2014.
Playwright Terry Johnson doesn’t write about famous people so much as use them in his own intricate fixation dramas.
This intriguing work runs two parallel obsession stories. The superbly loathsome Alfred Hitchcock (John Mangan) and his nameless, underestimated blonde (Gemma Johnston) play dangerous games with cameras, a knife and her darkly silent man (Dave Myers).
On a Greek island, working through the chance discovery of rotting reels of early Hitchcock celluloid in rusty cans, middle-aged university lecturer Alex (Edward Wallis) tries it on with his not so naive blonde student (Libby Waite) so that she becomes more infatuated with him than the film.
It’s Educating Rita taken to a different level. It’s obsession with consequences while unpicking human frailties with well-written faction – that is, fact and fiction mixed beautifully. All the players star in their own and each other’s life and human condition movies.
For an evening of high quality performance and some very funny lines, grab a ticket to the Maddermarket before 1st March.
Be warned, though, it’s quite racy in parts and strictly adult fun, but really well worth it!
Filed under: Reviews · Tags: Maddermarket Theatre