Difference between revisions of "Forty Years On (1980)"

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== Reviews ==
 
== Reviews ==
  
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Some review quotes go here
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Croydon Advertiser, Donald Madgwick, Forty Years On.  Main Theatre: 6-12 April.  Alan Bennett's "Forty Years On" looks back, not just in anger, but with a mixture of amused irony and genuine affection, at the vanishing world of Imperial England, from the beginning of her decline in 1900 to its completion by two world wars.  /  It is a big theme, challenging all the resources of a big playwright.  Bennett is certainly a writer of brilliant lines, but that is not quite the same thing.  /  The play lacks unity and consistency.  Too often the author, who can seldom resist the flashy effect, falls victim to his own cleverness.  /  [[Harry Saunder]]'s production plays the changing moods for what they are worth.  The performance of [[John Lyne]] as the head is sharp and observant, with a good feel, especially for the tomfoolery of such passages as the oration on Lawrence of Arabia.  / [[Adrian McLoughlin]], as another of the masters, has some splendid moments in a parody of Wilde's style, and later in another zany speech, this time about the redoubtable Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set.  /  [[Pam Lyne]] plays the school matron with great comic energy, and [[Clare Atkins]] also mines a rich vein of humour as Miss Nisbett, the bursar's secretary.  As the head boy, [[Nathan Ariss]] narrates the inner play with lucid precision.  /  The cast of boys on the whole work well, but co-ordination could be improved at those moments when the head catches one or other of them out in surreptitious activities.
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== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==

Revision as of 18:25, 18 April 2020

Poster by Malcolm Johnson

by Alan Bennett

Directed by Harry Sanders

Performances: Sun 6th – Sat 12th April 1980, Main Stage


Introduction

Text about the play

Cast

STAFF

BOYS

Crew

Reviews

Croydon Advertiser, Donald Madgwick, Forty Years On. Main Theatre: 6-12 April. Alan Bennett's "Forty Years On" looks back, not just in anger, but with a mixture of amused irony and genuine affection, at the vanishing world of Imperial England, from the beginning of her decline in 1900 to its completion by two world wars. / It is a big theme, challenging all the resources of a big playwright. Bennett is certainly a writer of brilliant lines, but that is not quite the same thing. / The play lacks unity and consistency. Too often the author, who can seldom resist the flashy effect, falls victim to his own cleverness. / Harry Saunder's production plays the changing moods for what they are worth. The performance of John Lyne as the head is sharp and observant, with a good feel, especially for the tomfoolery of such passages as the oration on Lawrence of Arabia. / Adrian McLoughlin, as another of the masters, has some splendid moments in a parody of Wilde's style, and later in another zany speech, this time about the redoubtable Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set. / Pam Lyne plays the school matron with great comic energy, and Clare Atkins also mines a rich vein of humour as Miss Nisbett, the bursar's secretary. As the head boy, Nathan Ariss narrates the inner play with lucid precision. / The cast of boys on the whole work well, but co-ordination could be improved at those moments when the head catches one or other of them out in surreptitious activities.

Gallery

  • 40YearsOn001.jpg

Reminiscences and Anecdotes

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.

See Also

Have there been other SLCT/SLT productions of this play? Link to them here.

Or add anything that is related within this site. The author's page for instance or other plays with a similar theme.

References

<references/>

External Links

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