At RWCMD |
| Welsh College of Music and Drama- Theres Raquin , Welsh College of Music and Drama (Caird Studio) , May 25, 2001 |
| "Be sure your sins will find you out." Maybe, today, a somewhat sentimental and cliched phrase but nevertheless it is the clear message that Zola gives us in this play. Illicit lovers Therese , acted with wonderful sensuality by Melissa Brown, and passionate, strong, dark and handsome, Laurent, acted , very sensitively by tall dark and handsome Ben Joiner set out to rid themselves of the impediment to their complete happiness - Therese's husband, Camille. So they think! Rob Pomfret does a very good job showing us the vulnerability of this sad young man. So convincingly do these young actors engage with their audience in the intimate Caird Studio that one almost feels inside the play with them, listening to the confession of a well-known friend. They do this in a well created 19th century Bohemian atmosphere by designer Paul Rees. The actors give us a very relaxed and realistic opening to the play. In calm domesticity we pick up on Camille's consumption, which seems reasonably under control. The domestic routine continues of dominoes and entertaining old friends of Camille's mother, played by Tracey Mainwaring, who although young, conveyed that very special feeling that every mother has for her son. This is contrasted well by the violent passion that erupts between Therese and Laurent. Melissa Brown very ably contrasts the great and shocking sensuality she offers Laurent in the early part of the play with the nervous reaction to him that comes later from her guilt in their murdering Camille. The superficial manner of the background characters, all played very convincingly and attractively by Marcus Webb, Paul Atkins and Lucy Donavan offset the other intense activity. There were some moments in this play as moving as you would find on any stage. Credit for this clearly goes to very experienced director Martin Hougton who has wrested from these students a maturity of playing far beyond their years. I agree wholeheartedly with David Adams that Martin's work demands to be seen on our main stages. I can also assure David that by the time I saw the play the cast were well on top of all their techniques and, most certainly this performance deserves a wider audience. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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