At Sgript Cymru |
| Sgript Cymru- Indian Country , Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff , May 1, 2003 |
| Another compelling theatre experience from the ever-strengthening Sgript Cymru! Another occasion to celebrate Welsh Theatre! ‘Old Mos’, actor Rhys Richards stands gently contemplating his mother’s funeral. The almost poetic clarity of leading Welsh dramatist Meic Povey’s words echoing the water coloured slopes of designer John Howes’ silhouette of the Snowdon range, where in a small patch of the world beneath it, the story plays out. We are back in 1958 the year of the making of the film ‘Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ When Old Mos was Young Mos, a bright eyed fourteen-year-old, played with great charm and no lack of authority by Royal Welsh College student actor Sion Pritchard. Fourteen year olds were, it seems, a lot younger in those days. His early cowboy antics, slapping his backside and hopping on both legs, that curious movement we all did to stimulate riding a horse, his well timed dialogue with the intruding loser from that strange other world of the film, Greg Grosvenor, played by Stuart Laing, showed a well judged and delightful sense of comedy. Greg is a personalised piece of the whole film experience that has a profound and lasting effect on this small North Walian struggling farming community. Whilst he has no menace about him his clever characterisation subtly suggests ‘trouble’ from the moment he appears. A lively exchange of dialogue between him and Young Mos banters the play amusingly along. Young Mos now hoping Greg can arrange for him to meet Ingrid Bergman and to be an actor in the film! To begin with no one seems quite sure what has happened to Young Mos’ father “standing on the mountain in green pyjamas”. The play progresses tantalisingly with a number of things we don't quite know or don't quite happen. An air of uncertainty brushed into the lives of everyone. There is little uncertainty in the life of Gwyneth. Mos’ widowed mother. The acting of Eiry Thomas is acting at its best as she turns from redoubtable, God fearing, no nonsense Welsh Mam into the vulnerable heroine of the piece. Watching her performance is the highlight of the evening. At first disdainful of the intruding Greg, her softening to his charm is developed with an exquisite subtlety that continues as she paints her fate, which we see resolved at the closing of the play. An intriguing and compelling story. The whole work has the feel of a watercolour with Simon Harris wielding his directorial brush with his usual sensitivity and understanding. A small note of criticism, if I may? At times the acting seemed a little uneven, this may be because the power of the work of Eiry Thomas will always be a hard act to follow. I also felt that the chorus speeches of Old Mos could have been more closely integrated with the action and whilst I appreciate the contrast, more in tune with the dialogue of the rest of the play. Meic Povey is one of the best-established writers in the Welsh language, this his first play in English, I hope it won’t be his last. The play continues at Chapter until 17th May. And tours to Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor 21st May. Mold, Clwyd Theatre Cymru 23rd-24th May. Swansea, Grand Theatre 29th-31st May. Aberystwyth, Arts Centre 4th June. Pwllheli, Neuadd Dwyfor 6th and 7th June. Edinburgh, Traverse Theatre Wed 11th –Sat 14th June. Why not Liverpool, Bristol, London etc. etc.? |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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