At Volcano Theatre |
| Volcano Theatre- Private Lives , Dolman Theatre, Newport , March 31, 2001 |
| Very few people, opines one of Noel Coward's characters, are really normal deep down in their private lives. And Volcano Theatre is really just not in the business of portraying normal people - or indeed respecting reputations. So poor Mr Coward gets taken at his word as the Swansea company sets to work exposing the fragility of the bourgeoisie. The premiere of this latest production from what has become one of Wales's leading theatre groups was bizarre enough. You could hardly choose a more unlikely venue than the home of Newport Playgoers, whose standard fare would be just the sort of modern classic Volcano delight in deconstructing. The irony seemed to have escaped amdram aficionados, alas, and only four people walked out as knickers were removed, the young heroine tap-danced desperately and two men in underpants fought each other carrying easy chairs to the sounds of Led Zeppelin as a sedate story of two sets of lovers degenerated into chaos. The original Private Lives, for those who know it, is miraculously still there (the text is faithfully adhered to) but Volcano's manic deconstruction work with guest director Gill Lyon turns an affectionate satire into a hilarious debunking. Of course there's a political purpose to their physical farce but the show actually is very, very funny. It marks a defiant return to form and glorious proof that thoughtful, provocative theatre can also be accessible and utterly enjoyable. It also marks the impressive professional debut of Laura Rees, still a student at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, whose inspired performance alongside Eric MacLennan and core Volcano members Fern Smith and Paul Davies is simply a knock-out. |
Reviewed by: David Adams |
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