Theatr na n'Og |
| Theatre Na n'Og- Cyrano , Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre , November 16, 2008 |
A battered transit van arrives at the venue and with the three actors mucking in, a tired stage manager begins to fit up a set consisting of a floor cloth, a couple of bits of ill-matched furniture and a dozen lights. That’s the story for many small Welsh theatre companies. That is what I was expecting from Na n’Og’s touring show, Cyrano. I was delighted to get the opposite. Na n’Og’ may be a small company, but this is big production worthy of more than the half full house at the WMC on Thursday. Keiron Self’s new script does away with the French and rhyming couplets. His use of modern language and the pace of his dialogue delivers plenty of comedy without loosing any of the essential romance. I’d arrived late and had abandoned the car in a bus stop. Crisp direction by Geinor Styles pulled the audience right in, there was no time for my mind to wonder if I had been given a parking ticket. The momentum is driven brilliantly by Rob Lane as Cyrano, on stage for pretty much the whole play. Lane’s Cyrano is a powerful swordsman and skilled wordsmith, defeating opponents easily with either weapon. I was enjoying myself so much I was really hoping there would not be an interval, for surely such an intermission would break the rhythm? But no, after the obligatory G&T we were straight back into the action. The large cast, another signal of Na n’Og’s gear change, are key to sustaining the pace and they provide constant surprises, many talents and an obvious enthusiasm. Any criticisms are minor; such as sometimes the modern language sits ill at easy with the period costumes. The over all result is great show that deserves more of an audience. Chief among the audience should be other small companies to see just how far the bar has been raised. The nose is back, it’s big and it’s brilliant. The tour continues through November: 18th at the Riverfront, Newport. 20th & 21st at the Teliesin, Swansea and 25th at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. |
Reviewed by: Jim Mayer |
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