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

At the Torch

A Mappa Mundi/Torch Theatre/Theatr Mwldan- A Midsummer Night’s Dream , Torch Theatre, Milford Haven , October 8, 2012

Location, location ... and wartime Britain, where Peter Doran and his talented co-operative have chosen to locate this production provides a changing social backdrop, familiar enough to place each character yet without restraint on Shakespeare’s words.

The scene is set with Hermia and US soldier Lysander in love. Sam Jones’s upright Demetrius is also enamoured with her and has forsaken his former love Helena. Her father Egeus (Matthew Bulgo) determined that Demetrius will become his son-in-law, enlists the aid of the powerful Theseus who is not without his own romantic problems.

Jack Brown’s Lysander, the confident US soldier, armed with charm and nylon stockings strides through a crumbling class structure to get his gal. But he is no match for what is ahead - a world of dreams and fairies where a sprinkle of dust upon the eyelids can transform emotions.

The moment we enter the so artfully created, magical woods, Francois Pandolfo’s mischievous Puck, a deviously delightful Will o’ the Wisp character, surrounds the action with his movements and maintains a dreamlike atmosphere through to his touching soliloquy.

The moment of awakening of each spellbound lover is great. I could not believe how Lisa Zahra’s distraught Hermia could ever recover being renounced by her true love Lysander, and Joanna Simpkins has so much hilarious energy as Helena – clinging to her loved one, then fighting off her desperate suitors. And all around are fairies - Cobway, Moth, Mustardseed ... I saw them all. King Oberon (Richard Nichols) is sinister and benevolent as he roams in the background and deploys his servant Puck, while his Queen intrigues with First Fairy (Lloyd Grayshon).

I’m certain Shakespeare created the character Bottom for Liam Tobin. Together with his tradesmen compatriots, Snug, Snout and Flute he produces such fine comedy and when he is given the head of donkey, I sensed the audience’s anticipation as glamorous Titania (Lynne Seymour) awakens – to fall in love with him.

The unrestrained performance of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ by a hapless conductor Qinince and his ‘home guard’ quartet, to celebrate the forthcoming weddings, is hilarious and raises the comedy to a climax. The performance of Snug should guarantee Lloyd Grayshon a Christmas Pantomime and Llinos Mai and James Peake were excellent in support.

I’ll admit to being less than enthusiastic when I first encountered this play as a fifth form schoolboy, but that version had no spitfires or ‘Flanagan and Allen! This is an elegant, cultural production that will sit comfortably in any theatre.

Cast:
Richard Nichols - Theseus/Oberon
Lynne Seymour – Hippolyta/Titania
Francois Pandolfo - Puck/Philostrate
Matthew Bulgo – Egeus/Quince
Lisa Zahra – Hermia
Joanna Simpkins – Helena
Jack Brown – Lysander
Sam Jones – Demetrius
Lliam Tobin – Bottom
Lloyd Grayshon – Snug/First Fairy
Llinos Mai – Snout
James Peake – Flute

Reviewed by: Ron Waters

back to the list of reviews

This review has been read 3461 times

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

At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (02 May 2024)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (08 December 2023)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (07 December 2023)
At the Torch- reviewed by Darryl Dickson (04 October 2018)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (10 May 2018)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (12 March 2018)
At the Torch- reviewed by Eifion Jenkins (20 February 2018)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (04 December 2017)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (18 October 2017)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (13 October 2017)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (20 August 2016)
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)
At the Torch- reviewed by John Cole (13 March 2013)
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 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 Ron Waters (04 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)

Theatre in Wales

Theatre, dance and performance reviews

Navigation

At the Torch