Review of At the Torch from the theatre dance and drama in Wales web site

Emotional clashes and sharp comedy

At the Torch

Torch Theatre Company- The Norman Conquests - Living Together , Torch Theatre Milford Haven , August 4, 2009

My entrance into this trilogy of Norman’s world was via the sitting room of a large country house, and had I been seated across the Torch’s cleverly transformed auditorium, I might have walked the stage; touched a settee. The intimacy of ‘The Round’ was immediate and there, opposite, was an audience whose reactions would become part of the performance.

And then I was into this family gathering, with Gareth Bale’s Norman strutting the room, familiar enough for it to contain his own ‘love rug’, and confident enough to confess his philandering to everyone – except Tom.

Young, long-suffering, frumpish Annie is torn between the temptation of an illicit weekend with Norman, the inactivity of fiancé Tom and the schedule of her ailing mother’s medicines. Vivienne Rowdon’s portrayal is perfect and I hope she comes out of it unscathed.

The arrival of determinably cheerful, hen-pecked Reg with wife Sarah fills the room, and Kyra Williams is perfect as the prissy, taut organiser. She clashes with everyone yet Reg handles her with a practised obedience. I’m sure that later, she has something to do with that rumpus in the dining room.

Edward Harrison’s Tom is the perfect vet, gentle and perhaps more familiar with animal than human behaviour. He senses something is amiss, but what? A bottle from his selection of homemade wine fuels a great melodramatic performance by Norman.

I enjoyed the hilarity as Reg, played by Simon Ludder, doggedly explains the rules of his complex board game to squabbling Sarah and Annie and bemused Tom, with Norman arguing vociferously on the phone to wife Ruth. There was an echo somewhere from my past and I recognised how ‘real life’ all the characters are.

And then Catrin Aaron’s Ruth makes her appearance. Ambitious and smart she is the antithesis of husband Norman who, even for a librarian, has the most awful dress sense. How could they possibly be compatible? His emergence from a dandelion wine induced stupor into a gentle, Welsh romantic armed with a love rug answers that.

There are enough emotional clashes here to bring despair yet the sharp comedy keeps it well afloat. But why was Tom in the garden for so long? And did Sarah brush hands with Norman as he departed?

A very enjoyable performance and I’m relishing my next entrance - into the dining room where all those arguments were going on.

Reviewed by: Ron Waters

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There are 81 other reviews of productions with this title in our database:

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At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (04 December 2017)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (20 July 2016)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (04 March 2016)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (13 October 2015)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (09 December 2013)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (03 December 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (10 November 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Amanda Griffiths (15 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (08 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jessie Condon (05 October 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jessie Condon (03 August 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victor Hallett (16 May 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (10 May 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (27 April 2012)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victor Hallett (09 June 2011)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (14 May 2011)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (15 December 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (11 October 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (19 August 2010)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (13 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (07 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (26 April 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (12 December 2008)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (05 April 2008)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (04 December 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (25 October 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (20 July 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (09 March 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters, The Stage (16 February 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (12 February 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Terry Johnson, The Stage (15 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by Fiona Phillips (12 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 October 2005)
At the Torch- reviewed by Simon Carr. Western Telegraph (09 December 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (23 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Emma Jones, Western Telegraph (21 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Walters, Milford Mercury (21 October 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by Graham Williams (10 March 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 February 2004)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (10 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (06 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jenny Hanson, Tenby Observer (05 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (31 January 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, The Stage (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by JENNY HANSON (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Assorted Edinburgh papers (02 August 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Zoe Hewett (26 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Zoe Hewett (09 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (09 March 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvet (28 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, The Stage (21 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Andrews Davies (15 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by MILFORD & WEST WALES MERCURY (15 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Keith Johnson, Western Telegaph (13 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tenby Observer (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Viv Stoddart, Milford Mercury (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Janet Bott (07 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Fiona Phillips (05 December 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (26 October 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (11 September 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (09 August 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victoria Cooper (10 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Elaine Atack (03 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvett (28 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (The Stage) (15 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (14 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (08 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (21 October 2000)

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