| Some stuff here |
At Sgript Cymru |
| Sgript Cymru- Art and Guff , Chapter Arts Centre , April 13, 2001 |
| I remember Catherine Tregenna when she played Genny in that explosive first production of Ed Thomas’s House of America that changed the face of Welsh theatre. Well, now the tables are turned as Ms Tregenna turns playwright in her own startling stage debut with a play that seems very much to feature Ed Thomas. It doesn’t, of course, but Richard Harrington, as Art, does bear a remarkable resemblance to Wales’s most famous living playwright. And the lines which Ms Tregenna has given him to speak are uncannily like those of the loquacious Mr Thomas. That Art plays a struggling screenplay writer sharing a London flat with a mate from South West Wales, a situation not a million miles from the true history of Edward Thomas, may be coincidence. Though featuring a book called How to Make a Successful British Movie might raise more than a wry smile from the man whose recent movie Rancid Aluminium got some of the worst reviews ever. So it may well be a case of Art imitating life - but this entertaining and moving new production from Sgript Cymru positively sparks with energy as it creates an engaging tale of two Kidwelly thirtysomethings getting distracted from making it big as writers by the lure of Tequila slammers, Stella and sloth. It’s hardly innovative, however, and the themes seem to float between Waiting for Godot and The Likely Lads by way of Withnail and I and too many tv sitcoms, with an embarrassingly underwritten pair of hippie neighbours failing to provide any real note of menace. It is a promising first play but a bit thin, then, with some good dialogue writing let down by lack of depth. What really makes it are the stunning performances from Harrington and Roger Evans as Guff, who capture to perfection the uncertainty, frailties, bonds and affection in the men’s relationship. |
Reviewed by: David Adams |
This review has been read 2964 times There are 70 other reviews of productions with this title in our database:
|
