At RWCMD |
| The Threesome (Final year student production ) , Welsh College of Music and Drama , February 9, 2001 |
| Any notion that 19th century French Farce has become outdated in this twenty first century was completely blown away by this impressive production by final year students at the WCMD. The "goings on" presented are the very stuff of our everyday TV Soaps. The period is perfectly set for us as we enter the theatre. The stage, heavy with red drapery and with its footlights, readily transports us from the modern day studio theatre back to the age of the crinoline and gentile manners. As the play progresses to its final outdoor scene the drapes fall away and the cast succeed well in engaging us in their world, despite being surrounded by all the paraphernalia of the studio. Make no mistake, this is a difficult form of theatre to embrace. To really succeed the actors have to be able to command the very best levels of pace and technique. If the cast here do not completely capture the zeitgeist of farce they make up for it with the delight and wonderful charm they bring to the characters they play. This was the opening night. The whole cast were very much in command of their characters. I feel sure with a few more performances under their belts they will become even braver and drive the play along with the cracking pace it requires. Wales' reputation for providing first class actor to the 'whole wide world' shows now sign of diminishing to judge by the performance given tonight. Marc Thorne handles his role as the adulterer with relish and establishes a very good rapport with his direct exchanges to the audience. In fact we the audience, make friends with each of the characters when they address us directly. Paul Atkins and Leanne Willets give us two very clearly drawn 'Alsations'. Although somewhat stereotypical they succeed in provoking the greatest laughter with their broad humour. The boisterous way in which Leanne throws herself at her men is a real joy. Lucy Gaskell's continuous failure in her attempts to be 'wicked' has the audience willing her to succeed. Wayne Leonard and Tom Englishby cope well playing the older roles with Alice Pritchard and Leila Crerar both doing a nice line in the innocent-not so innocent. The whole cast pick up the pace well as they bring the complicated plot to its conclusion and end again on a note of great charm and innocence that is the essence of this production. On the same night at the college other students gave a performance of "Whale Music" by Anthony Minghella and Cegin Y Diafol by Sion Eirien. On the 14th February until the 17th. they will be presenting The Taming of The Shrew at the Sherman Theatre. Ibsen's Hedda Gabler will be in the Caird Studio Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 March and the musical City of Angels back in the Bute Theatre Friday 23 March - Saturday 31st. The College has taken to advertising its work to a wider public audience as it sadly the only place in the Capitol of Wales where newly mounted productions of extant plays from the British and International calendars can be seen. All power to their elbow. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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