Theatre Review: 'The Deep Blue Sea' by Terence Rattigan

Hi everyone,

I had the pleasure of watching Terence Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea' twice at the Minerva Theatre, at the Chichester Festival Theatre on the 16th & 17th July 2019.

Cast
Nancy Carroll - Hester Collyer
Gerald Kyd - Sir William Collyer
Hadley Fraser - Freddie Page
Denise Black - Mrs Elton
Matthew Cottle - Mr Miller
Ralph Davis - Philip Welch
Laurence Ubong Williams - Jackie Jackson
Helena Wilson - Ann Welch

Act One begins with Hester lying unconscious in front of the fire. She is found by her neighbours Philip and Ann Welch, along with their housekeeper Mrs Elton. Mrs Elton goes to get help from another tenant of hers called Mr Miller, and Philip and Ann suggest that they try to get in contact with a relative of hers as her husband is nowhere to be seen. So, they inform her husband Sir William Collyer, who is a well respected judge and he comes round to Hester's flat straight away. Once William arrives he asks Mrs Elton to leave, and Hester asks him how much does he know about what happened, and he has been told just enough to stop her lying to him. While William is round Mr Miller comes in to check on Hester, and William thanks Mr Miller for helping her. Soon afterwards William has to leave Hester, as he is due in court in fifteen minutes, but he wants to make sure that Hester will be alright before he goes to court.

Act Two begins with Freddie talking to Jackie Jackson over why Hester tried to take her own life, and it was because Freddie didn't remember that it was Hester's birthday the previous day. Freddie wants Hester's divorce to hurry up. After Freddie has left, William comes to see Hester as she has offered him around for tea. But, because William's and Hester's moments are special he doesn't want her to waste those moments by her making tea in the kitchen. He also asks Hester if should would like to go out somewhere, but she wants to stay in to see what happens with Freddie. Freddie arrives back home and notices William. He asks Hester if she has seen Mr Miller, as he hasn't been to the club.

Act Three begins with Hester making a phone call to find out where Freddie is. Then Mrs Elton comes round to check to see if Hester is okay. While Mrs Elton is round at Hester's; Ann also comes round, as she wants to know if her husband Philip is there as he has been out with Freddie. Ann doesn't like being alone. Everyone in Mrs Elton's flats heard the argument between Hester and Freddie.
  Soon after, William comes to see Hester; he is dressed in a dinner jacket as he has had guests round for dinner that evening. William advises Hester to get out of the flat, as he doesn't like the idea of her being alone in the flat. But, she doesn't know of anywhere where she could go. Hester offers William a drink, but Freddie has finished off the bottle of whiskey. So, she offers him a bottle of Claret that she opened the night before and they toast to "the future". William offers Hester a different future, but she no longer wants to be his wife. But, William is more in love with Hester now than on their wedding day.
  Philip turns up by letting himself in with a key that Freddie gave him. Philip has come to collect Freddie's bag, as he needs it for that night. Hester asks Philip to check in on Ann before he goes back too Freddie, as she is getting worried about Philip.

Gerald and Nancy work beautifully together as Hester and William Collyer, as they are a natural pairing that manages to create something magical throughout the production. Gerald makes William both compassionate and caring, while still showing that he still loves Hester despite her loving Freddie. Nancy makes Hester both subtle and delicate when she is with William, but also powerful and passionate when she is with Freddie. I really enjoyed Hadley's entrance as Freddie, as he gives Freddie 'bounds of energy'. Denise  portrays her character as Mrs Elton as someone who tries to help in anyway they can, and whose heart is also in the right place. Helena and Ralph play Ann and Philip Welch with young innocence and who are also concerned for Hester's well being. Mr Miller is played with great gentleness by Matthew, as well as someone who is always looking out for Hester.

Paul Foster's revival of Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea' is a brilliant piece of theatre, as he lets the cast play to their strengths to enable them to bring out the best of their characters. I really enjoyed experiencing a new play where the cast can express true emotions; as well as exploring situations that still happen in today's society.

Theatre Review: 'Breaking the Rules' by Clare Norburn (Updated)

Hi everyone,

I had the pleasure of seeing Clare Norburn's fabulous production of 'Breaking the Rules' twice back in 2016, and I have finally managed to go again on the 17th April 2019 only this time it was being performed at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

Cast

Gesualdo - Gerald Kyd
The Marian Consort
Jamie Akers/ Wezi Elliot - Lutest

Original Review from 2016

'Breaking the Rules' is a performance to celebrate Gesualdo's 450th birthday. The performance consists of a two hour monologue and the Marian Consort performing Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsies and Madrigils. The Tenebrae Responsies are sacred pieces of music composed by Gesualdo, and the Madrigils are the pieces of music were Gesualdo started to explore the use of harmonics and chromatics, and at that period in time it was just starting to come about.

'Breaking the Rules' is a one man concert drama that centres around the last day of Carlo Gesualdo. Gesualdo is alone in his chapel on his family estate. But, Gesualdo has been living inside his castle for some time.
  Two weeks previous he lost his only son and heir, and Gesualdo himself now stares death in the face, knowing that he faces purgatory for the multitude of sins that he has committed.
  During his final day, Gesualdo is haunted by the memories of his first wife, Maria; who he murdered 23 years ago because she was having an affair with local nobleman, Fabrizio Carafa, the Duke of Andria. The only thing that will finally free him of these visions from the past is if he 'turns on' the music, which he himself has composed.
  Also, in the chapel with Gesualdo are his consort of singers and they help to provide a soundtrack into Gesualdo's mind, as well as to act as a trigger to help Gesualdo remember his important life events.

Gerald is absolutely outstanding as Gesualdo, because he makes him likeable; even though he has a very dark and intense past. The monologue is performed with a lot of depth and contrast; and this is due to Gesualdo reflecting back on his past as well as highlighting some of his important life events.

The Marian Consort are fabulous as Gesualdo's personal consort. They perform a selection of Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsies and Madrigils because Gesualdo has to 'turn on' the music while reflecting on his past life. The music which is performed by the Marian Consort is beautiful to listen too because of the harmonics and chromatics that is used throughout Gesualdo's compositions. Angels are definitely singing in the form of the Marian Consort.

'Breaking the Rules' is a fabulous production that provides the audience with a unique experience. If you want to see a show which puts in a dream-like state, and through a palette of colours, then this could be for you. 'Breaking the Rules' is a show that certainly takes you out of yourself and transports you to another place.

2019 Update

I had the pleasure of seeing 'Breaking the Rules' for a third time, and this time it was held at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester at 7.30pm.

This was staged differently to when I had watched this in the past; as they used elements of the hall to give it a more spacious feel rather than the condensed feeling which is due to the layout of the churches.
  The opening act started off with the Marian Consort singing from the dress circle; and at the start of the second act the Consort sang from the gallery. But they also walked around the stalls during the second act.

The way the monologue is performed has also changed from when I first saw the production. Gerald has given Gesualdo a 'new lease of life', as there's even more depth of colour, as well as a lot more to Gesualdo's character from what I remember previously. Also, both Luigi and Guilio now each have their own characteristics.
  The 'magic numbers' scene has also been staged differently, because this scene used to be Gerald sitting in a chair reading a book; whereas it now commands the entire stage.

'Breaking the Rules' has certainly got better and better over the years. It seems to go at a more relaxing pace, which gives it a more natural and free flowing feel. Everyone was on top form. The Marian Consort sounded exceptionally crisp and clean, and Gerald has only bettered the entire monologue throughout the years.
  I actually felt very at home with 'Breaking the Rules', as I had a lovely, warm cosy feeling throughout. I even caught myself saying some of the monologue to myself, as well as having a little sing-a-long with some of the music.

I would highly recommend anyone to grab a ticket to see this wonderful production; as I didn't think it could get any better, but this show has bettered itself throughout the years.

Review: 'Hapgood' by Tom Stoppard

Hi everyone,

I went to see the sell out production of 'Hapgood' by Tom Stoppard at Hampstead Theatre. I went to see this at the end of December, and it was a thoughly enjoyable and mind boggling evening.

Cast
Hapgood - Lisa Dillon
Ridley - Gerald Kyd
Blair - Tim McMullan
Kerner - Alec Newman
Wates - Gary Beadle
Maggs - Nick Blakeley
Merryweather - Edward Hancock
Joe - Sasha Grey or Adam Cansfield
The Russian - Joe Evans

Hapgood is a female spy working for British Intelligence, who also just happens to have a son. She is put in charge of a briefcase swap, which takes place at a local swimming pool; but it goes wrong. The swap goes wrong, as they twins operating on the swap. Also, operating on the swap was Kerner and inside his briefcase was a bleep, and this was being tracked by Wates. Kerner's briefcase had also been booby-trapped by Wates with a radioactive deodorant, and when we actually meet Hapgood its Kerner's briefcase she is holding.
  Following the briefcase swap, an investigation takes place & it turns out Kerner is clean because Ridley did the swap. But, Washington want Kerner taken off everything and his career as an agent is over; but his career as a Physicist isn't. The Americans are spending millions of dollars within the UK to fund Kerner's SDI research, but it turns out that he has been swapping briefcases with the Russians. While doing the briefcase swap it was Kerner who delivered the case to Ridley, and then Ridley delivered the case to Hapgood.

Act Two begins with a meeting which takes place between Hapgood, Blair and Ridley, and they are interviewing Kerner regarding some photographs that are part of the anti-matter programme. Kerner is running the anti-matter programme alongside the Centre for Nuclear Research in Geneva, and Livermoor Research in California. The photographs that have been intercepted went through both labs, and also the SDI office within the Pentagon, and then they travelled by embassy courier to Grosvenor Square and then they were also copies sent to the Defense Liaison Committee. They were fifteen copies made in Hapgood's office - nine American and six British. The British copies have white patches to show the erasure of the circular number that is printed on each page, and then Washington add an American Circulation prefix. The photos which were intercpeted came from Moscow.
  Later on during the day Hapgood finds out that Joe has been kidnapped, and they want to trade for Kerner's anti-particle trap, which is a disc full of physics. They agree to do the swap, but Hapgood gives Blair the dummy disc from Ridley's briefcase. Also, Blair had missed the contact with the kidnappers and Hapgood picked up on this; and this is because the kidnappers used Interflora.
  Ridley goes to see Hapgood's twin, but Ridley is also a twin who goes by the name of Ernest and he is a photographer. Whereas, Hapgood's twin doesn't stop talking, doesn't look great, and who is also a pot head who just happens to be growing the stuff in a window box. Ridley's twin offers Hapgood's twin £2000, but for everytime she swear he will burn £50.
  Ridley's twin and Hapgood twin go undercover in Hapgood's office to retrieve Kerner's disc, and this will be used in exchange for Joe.
  When the exchange for Joe takes place both Hapgood and Ridley discover that Blair has been for the KGB, aswell as British Intelligence, and it turns out that Hapgood and her team of British Intelligence have just been keeping the KGB in business.

Act One of 'Hapgood' was very interesting to watch, especially with the briefcase swap because no one in the audience uderstood what was actually going on. The only way to gain an understanding of whats exactly happening during the opening scene is if you read the three pages of stage direction within the play text, and by doing so the opening scene starts to make some sort of sense.

Act Two isn't as intense as the first, but its still interesting and complicated. My favourite part of the second act  is when Hapgood's twin and Ridley's twin meet for the first time, and he offers her £2000 to do as she's told, and for everytime she swears he will burn £50.

'Hapgood' is an interesting production to watch because all of the answers that are needed to actually understand the aren't written in black and white, which means as a member of the audience you have to look beyond the script to start gaining an understanding of the plot.