| Brassed Off- "I absolutely loved it" |
Aberystwyth Summer Musical |
| Aberystwyth Arts Centre , Aberystwyth Arts Centre , August 15, 2023 |
One of the few perks of being a theatre reviewer is the occasional free ticket, but in the words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you’re going to get. Having said that, when it comes to Aberystwyth Arts Centre, the quality of the chocolates is almost invariably exceptional to be fair.The announcement that Brassed Off was to be this year’s summer season raised as many questions as it did answers. Is it really a Summer Season show? Is it suitable for kids? Will it bring in the crowds? The jury’s out on all three points, but I’ll make my position clear from the outset - I absolutely loved it. The original setting for both the 1996 film and the hit stage show by Paul Allen was the mining town of Grimely, an almost unnecessary reinvention of Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire. The original script told the story of the Grimely Colliery Band in the bleak aftermath of the mining strikes, but the version that we are treated to in Theatr y Werin is Steffan Rhodri’s brilliant adaptation that is set in the fictitious settlement of Tonfardre, which is brought to life by Pete Lochery’s wonderfully raw and atmospheric set. The show is opened by local lad Owen Jac Roberts (Scott) with the line “Why are we so poor?” and with his father promising to make it right. It’s a microscopic section of the show, but as the sound of Calon Lan echoes through the auditorium, it instantly invokes feelings of nostalgia, ‘hiraeth’ and belonging, and we’re only in the first scene. Owen Jac is certainly no stranger to the Arts Centre, but this undoubtedly represents his biggest opportunity yet – and he grabs it with both hands. He is joined on stage sporadically by fellow local youngsters Caitlin Roberts and Jenna McNicholls Vale, who do themselves proud and do not look out of place for a second, despite featuring alongside some genuine Welsh acting royalty throughout the show. Some other familiar ‘wardens’ of the Theatr Y Werin stage, Sonia Dobson, Theresa Jones and Julie McNicholls Vale, also provide polished and important cameos. Having seen countless productions over the years, it turns out that I am overly suspicious of tricks of the trade when it comes to sound and visual effects. In the bar after the show, I asked a couple of cast members how many of those in the brass band were actually playing. “All of them” was the instant reply and, as a result, I would like to apologise for the disservice I did them when writing my notes! In my defence, the quality of the musicianship was so brilliant that I just didn’t think in a million years that the cast, the actual leads, were playing brass instruments live on stage to such an unbelievable standard. But they were, and it will make the next time I watch the show even more enjoyable! The casting for the show is just about perfect, with Ieuan Rhys (Brian) and Phylip Harries (Dai) providing the Laurel and Hardyesque comedy, alongside the ever-hilarious Gillian Elisa (Vera). The chemistry between the three of them is effortless, to the point where you could well imagine half of it being improvised, if it were not for the fact that the show is directed by Richard Cheshire, who will have choreographed every movement to the millimetre. Whilst Seren Sandham Davies (Gloria) and Geraint Rhys Edwards (Barry) expertly provide us with our true love story, Sara Harris-Davies (Rita), Joey Hickman (Haydn) and Rachael Garnett as Mandy, in particular, remind us of the bleak reality of the time. Some of the scenes are truly harrowing, and a reminder of what tens of thousands of families had to go through. This is not just entertainment, this is a history lesson, and it really was grim up north…and in the valleys. Ioan Hefin (Dafydd) is the conductor of the colliery band, and the glue that holds the show together with his character’s links to the past, present and future. The dynamics between him and his on-stage son and grandson, Hickman and Roberts respectively, are genuinely moving, especially the beautifully crafted ending. The lack of reliance on sound effects during the show is a brave move, as it leaves no hiding places for the cast and ensures that the show is well paced – it simply has to be to avoid lingering silences – and this has Cheshire written all over it. He always delivers a high-quality product, that’s a given, but his genius is wringing every last drop out of the material and personnel that he works with, and this show is a perfect example of that. This isn’t really a story about a colliery band – it’s a story about the gritty, resilient, brave and bedraggled souls that endured this period of Welsh history. When Gillian Elisa delivers the line “People like us, we’re put down here to make up the numbers”, it really does pull at the heart strings and remind the audience just how close these events were in distance and time, to all of us sitting in our comfy red seats. “If they were baby seals or dolphins, you’d all be up in arms” says Hefin at one point, and it hammers the point home brutally, but brilliantly. The ‘truth’ of the story is something to which Cheshire always pays close attention, and never has that aspect of his directing been more important than with this production. This isn’t your typical summer season fare, but it is a top-quality product in all respects and I really hope that it gets the audiences it so richly deserves. |
Reviewed by: Alan Rock |
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