Eden Valley Messenger

GRIMM TALES  - adapted from the Brothers Grimm by Carol Ann Duffy, dramatised by Tim Supple. Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

THE pace of this dramatisation of the gruesome folktales of the Brothers Grimm is beaten out throughout this surreal production that grabs its audience by the throat from the start.

I must admit I had forgotten just how dark these stories were, until the opening scene when a mother puts her own life before those of her two children - Hansel and Gretel. Alys Torrance was truly horrifying as the evil mum.

Noel White as the bird in the following Golden Goose tale lifted the spirits with his creation of web feet using two yellow marigold gloves – excellent comic timing.

The stage set is created from rubbish – plastic cans, old CDs, funnels, bottles and much more – and the six folk tales are told upon a rhythmic backdrop. There are moments that take me back to watching the early days of Play School with Brian Cant, making creatures out of socks, old toilet rolls, paper cups and washing up brushes– then the next second there’s a feeling of an Edinburgh Fringe avant-garde piece about this production. But it works. It’s entertaining, thought provoking and definitely never boring.

The “rubbish” becomes the percussion instruments and the versatile actors, when not performing their character roles take over the piano, flute, clarinet and even a guitar made from an old metal petrol can.   

From one beat to another they move from character to character creating a magical, yet sinister world around them. The actors never leave the stage – except when to chase each other around the theatre. Their performance is truly awe inspiring. One second lapse in concentration would see this production fall like a house of cards.

Kieran Buckeridge who has been at the theatre for several seasons, displays his wide range of musical talents, and his flute playing created the perfect eerie setting for the scenes in the wood.

The strength of this production is not just the powerful stories of human weakness, but a well cast company of actors. This is not an easy production to pull off – but as we have grown to expect over the past decade, this is a theatre that can rise to the occasion.

The Brothers Grimm, like Roald Dahl knew children could not only take but enjoy a macabre tale – even if it did make them turn away from the stage when Ashputtel’s two step sisters mutilated their feet to try and fit into the slipper to marry the Prince.

Unlike other Christmas productions over the past 10 years, Grimm Tales does not have you leaving the theatre full of festive spirit, but it is a great piece of theatre that adults will enjoy as much if not more than the children – though not too young, I would suggest.

• Grimm Tales runs at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick until Saturday, January 9, 2010.

THE MEMORY OF WATER by Shelagh Stephenson - The Studio, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

ANYONE who has siblings will relate to Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water which runs until November 6 in the Studio, Theatre by the Lake.

Coming together for their mother’s funeral in the seaside home they grew up in, the three sisters each have their own edition of their childhood memories – each alien to the others.

The build up to the funeral day is filled with sisterly bickering and hilarious behaviour – like watching someone else’s family Christmas. It’s good fun to watch but you are glad your not involved.

 The eldest, organised, ordinary Teresa is played by Maria Gough who gives an excellent performance as a neurotic, older sibling on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The middle sister Mary, played by Polly Lister is the one the others think had an easy time, but in reality she is as confused and angry as her sisters. Finally there’s the wild child younger sister Catherine played by Janine Hales.

Now a doctor, Mary is objective and controlled – but when her married lover Mike turns up circumstances lead her to unveil her female desires and needs. Polly Lister gives a strong, moving performance as the woman lost between her past and her fear of a childless future.

Janine Hales’ performance as Catherine is equally moving – falling between the need to give and receive love.

James Nickerson as Frank, the poor husband of Teresa is an understated but brilliant performance. His character is like a sounding board for the women, coming to terms with the fact like all daughters have to as some time – we are our mothers. The unearthing of family skeletons simply amplifies this universal fact.

The ghost of their mother Vi, played by Aimée Thomas brings the play together, linking past, present and future. This is an entertaining, play that has you laughing at the family antics – but when the girls each realise they will never see Vi again as the coffin leaves the bedroom their powerful performance hit home. The pretence stops, this is the moment when they all share a future memory together as one.

This play makes you think about how much is truth and how much is fiction in all our memories.

The Memory of Water runs until November 6, 2009.

BLACKBIRD by David Harrower at The Studio, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

LIKE a blackbird pecking away at the carcass of a dead mammal, Una picks over the incident that was the death of her innocence. But is Ray, the man she hasn’t seen for 15 years the victim of the affair or the grim reaper of her joy for life? This is the question that you keep going back to as you are drawn into Blackbird a Theatre by the Lake production in The Studio.

Janine Hales gives a strong performance as Una, dominating the stage from the moment she walks onto the set of a rest room in a factory. Peter MacQueen as Ray appears the weaker of the two – but the slow burn gives his performance the greater impact in the end. As the one act play unfolds his true character is peeled away, layer by layer.

The Studio is the perfect setting for this emotionally charged play – you can see the faces of the other members of the audience opposite. The utter hatred of a character is etched upon their faces as the nature of the couple’s relationship a decade-and-a-half ago unfolds.

You are drawn into their opposing version of events. Like ball in a Wimbledon tennis final you are volleyed between the two at a frantic pace.

David Harrower’s script keeps you asking yourself – what is the truth? And just as you think you have worked it out another angle is thrown into the mix to make you question your own judgement.

The tension between Una and Ray is intense thanks to the brilliant performances by the actors. The fight scenes – directed by Kate Waters – brought the drama to a climax that was then surpassed.

To give details of their story would spoil the play – and all you need to know is that you are in for an emotional rollercoaster and a great example of what The Studio does best at Theatre by the Lake.

Blackbird runs until November 4, 2009 in The Studio, Theatre by the Lake.

A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL by Alan Ayckbourn, Main Theatre, Theatre by the Lake.

CASH for information, affairs and social (dis)graces – no, not another day in parliament but a fun night out at Theatre by the Lake.

The master of middle class polite comedy, Alan Ayckbourn kicks off the summer season for the 10^th anniversary year at the Keswick theatre, and a full house for the first night gave a chorus of laughter.

Ayckbourn has his critics who claim his characters are stereotypes – but we’ve all met someone like each of the odd-ball players in this play about an am-dram production.

Richard Galazka makes you feel his character’s social discomfort as Guy Jones, the new boy recently widowed and who accidentally gains two married lovers – meek and down trodden Hannah Llewellyn played by Aimée Thomas and vamp Fay Hubbard played with gusto by Polly Lister who was also a member of last year’s successful cast.

Pendon Amateur Light Opera Society’s director Dafydd ap Llewellyn is preparing amateur actors for their production of The Beggar’s Opera with an under current of sexual tension and a business deal for land. Simeon Truby as Dafydd is a brilliant over bearing character who is so full of himself he fails to see what is going on around him – until the first night.

With women fighting over a bad boy lover, secret trysts in tea rooms and cash for information this is classic Ayckbourn done to perfection. The revolving set takes us on the journey from rehearsal in the village hall to pub, living room and tea room – and back to the first night.

This tight production has perfect timing that maximises the impact of Ayckborn’s brilliant words. A true British gem not to be missed and a great start to the new season.

• A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn. Theatre by the Lake Main House until November 4, 2009.