Difference between revisions of "West (1993)"
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The distinctive flavour of the production was exemplified in the staging of Mike's terrific solo fight scene to the stately, baroque Adagio of Albinoni, a true harmony of antitheses. | The distinctive flavour of the production was exemplified in the staging of Mike's terrific solo fight scene to the stately, baroque Adagio of Albinoni, a true harmony of antitheses. | ||
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| + | From a worthy supporting cast, three performances stood out in particular. The haunting desperation of Cleo Rhodes, as Mike's girlfriend, stemmed from her conviction that the greatest threat to her came rom his sworn enemy, the rival gang leader. | ||
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| + | Peter Medd and Kait Feeney poignantly conveyed the where-did-we-g-wrong agonies of Mike's parents, a downtrodden pair of drudges in the semi-comic Jewish tradition, only a generation but a whole world away from their son's rootless anarchy. | ||
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| + | Donald Madgwick, The Croydon Advertiser. | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
Revision as of 12:43, 3 June 2010
Directed by Brenda Meldrum
Performances: Thurs 25th – Sat 28th February 1993, Prompt Corner
Contents
Introduction
Text about the play
Cast
- Mike - Michael Cooper
- Les in Mike's Gang/Pat in Curly's gang - Maggie Cearns
- Pearl (Mile's mum)/Stu in Mike's Gang/Mick in Curly's Gang - Kait Feeney
- Ralph in Mike's Gang/Reg in Curly's gang/Cafe manager - Alex Hyatt
- Sid/Mike's Dad/Jeff in Mike's Gang/Seamus in Curly's gang/Salesman - Peter Medd
- Slyv, Mike's bird/Harry in Mike's gang/The Avenger - Cheo Rhodes
- Ken in Mike's gang/Dermot in Curly's gang/Waitress - Lorraine Spenceley
Crew
- Dance - Malcolm Flint
- Lighting - Keefe Browning
- Sound - Michael Meldrum
Reviews
I sometimes wish all dramatists would follow Harold Pinter's example and refuse to explain what their plays are all about.
According to Stephen Berkoff his "West" is about the courage to be true to yourself, "which is worth pursuing since it defines who you are".
This strikes me as one of those meaningless pieces of guff which at first glance pass for profundities. Don't we define who we are by our every action, great or small, true or false, worthy or despicable?
At least indifference is one emotion Berkoff is unlikely to arouse in you, as witness Brenda Meldrum's explosive direction in the Prompt Corner.
Its violent energy and Shakespearean echoes (whole slabs of Hamlet came flying out at us throughout the evening) undermined the theatre manager's dream by bringing bums halfway off seats.
This account of gang war in N16 revolved around Mike Coper's concussive performance as gangleader Mike. Other members of the cast each took several roles, moving easily in and out of them as occasion demanded.
The distinctive flavour of the production was exemplified in the staging of Mike's terrific solo fight scene to the stately, baroque Adagio of Albinoni, a true harmony of antitheses.
From a worthy supporting cast, three performances stood out in particular. The haunting desperation of Cleo Rhodes, as Mike's girlfriend, stemmed from her conviction that the greatest threat to her came rom his sworn enemy, the rival gang leader.
Peter Medd and Kait Feeney poignantly conveyed the where-did-we-g-wrong agonies of Mike's parents, a downtrodden pair of drudges in the semi-comic Jewish tradition, only a generation but a whole world away from their son's rootless anarchy.
Donald Madgwick, The Croydon Advertiser.
Gallery
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 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
[Category:Prompt Corner Productions]]
