At Louche Theatre |
| Louche Theatre- The Bespoke Overcoat , The Morlan Centre, Aberystwyth , July 23, 2013 |
Good theatre can move you, both emotionally and to another time and another place. Last Friday night was one of those instances.‘The Bespoke Overcoat’ by Wolf Mankowitz is set in the East End of London in the early 1950’s and as I sat down in the Morlan Centre , listening to the street organ outside Morry’s shop and watching the old tailor thinking and swigging brandy, I was taken there. It’s a simple enough story. Morry played by Sandy Spence and Fender played by Harry Durnall are two old Jews- and two old friends who are both poor and deprived, but accept it with humour and understanding. Morry agrees to make his old friend a new bespoke overcoat to keep him warm in the cold warehouse he works in. Before it is finished Fender dies, but returns as a ghost and insists upon having a coat. Not the one Morry made for him, but a sheepskin lined one from his cold hearted boss, Missy Ranting, played by Julie McNicholls. So what makes this 50 minute one-act play such a gem? Two things; firstly the beautiful, poetic words of Wolf Mankowitz, himself an East End Jew , and then the understanding, sincere and deeply moving performances of the company. To start with they looked perfect. Age, costumes, attitudes and physicality were just right. Julie McNicholls as Fender’s unfeeling boss made me dislike, indeed hate the character she played…just what was required. Alex Gilbey as the new clerk employed to replace Fender was an arrogant, would be Mr Universe, played with confidence. However, the play belongs to the central characters, Morry and Fender. Let me simply say that Spence and Durnall were delightful to watch and listen to. They became two old Jews and I cannot give them higher praise than that. They didn’t act the roles, they lived them. Spence’s reactions; his eyes, body language and movement could not have said more…a delight to watch. Durnall’s performance as Fender was strong and studied. He also designed and directed the production. Quite a feat. He took us on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. In the scene where he tells Morry he must cancel the coat, the tears ran down his cheeks and our hearts went out to him, yet two scenes later he had us laughing with him again. His direction was detailed, understanding, sympathetic and spot on. The production team headed by Lisa Lewis gave the actors a set that was perfect in every detail, from the period sewing machine to the invoices on Fender’s rough table. Lighting by Stephen Griffiths and sound by Andy Gatherer were subtle and totally right. If you missed these Fringe previews in Aberystwyth you can still catch it on Saturday 27th July at The Tabernacle in Machynlleth or Friday 2nd August at the Dragon Theatre, Barmouth before it transfers to Edinburgh. Try not to miss it – it is rather special. |
Reviewed by: Martin Williams |
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