ALICE ON THE UNDERGROUND till 24 July - touring later

ALICE ON THE UNDERGROUND (Chicken Shed)
Birmingham Rep 20 27 July Tkts 0121 236 4455
(and on tour)
Runs 1h 45m, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 20 July 2004

Powerfully direct, warm and honestIt's a lively romp through Alice seen through 21st Century eyes; rough, tough, occasionally bleak but with a warm heart.

Chicken Shed have developed their own style of community work over their 30 years. The show has a rough-hewn quality that makes for a powerful directness. But the directness itself becomes somewhat blunted by the show's transplanting. You feel 'I wish I could see it where it was made.'

Nevertheless, if we are to see it (and it deserves to be seen) then we must accept our spectator position and see past it. It's rewarding; the show's warmth and honesty is infectious.

Alice (Emma Cambridge) runs away from rowing parents/ siblings/ neighbours and a neurotic social worker. She becomes trapped in a nightmarish world of drunks, muggers on trains, brothels and evangelists. Eventually she is persuaded to return home where she is welcomed by anxious parents.

This is very much an ensemble piece and the whole show vibrates with vigour and commitment. And with a great sense of humour too. The music helps with this, it's punchy, direct and keeps the show moving with pace. THE JESUS LINE is particularly strong in the first half as is DON'T LOOK NOW (which is beautifully staged.) In the second half particularly strong are TUNNEL OF LOVE (Michael Offei in fine fettle as Fat Cat).

Emma Cambridge's Alice has a genuine innocence about her, her vulnerability is tangible. And Tommy Doyle's White Rabbit is both touching and athletic in equal measures.

Alice: Emma Cambridge
Carol Lewis (her mum) etc: Rebecca Chapman
Sammy (her sister); Woman with Pig etc: Anna Stavrinides
Jimmy (her brother); A White Rabbit etc: Tommy Doyle
Harry (her feller); Fat Cat; The Jack of Hearts etc: Michael Offei
Queenie: Sister Dee; Queen of Hearts, Drums etc: Liz Kitchen
Rex (Queenie's Husband); Father William, Bass etc: Iain Whitmore
Susan The Social Worker; The Duchess etc: Emily Gardner
Mobile Man; Postman etc: Edwin Din
Keyboards, Vocals etc: Jo Collins
Guitar, Vocals etc: Phillip Reed
Sound, Drums etc: Simon Cooper

Music by Jo Collins and David Carey
Words by Chris Bond and Paula Rees
Set and Costume Design by Ellen Cairns
Lighting and Sound Design by Paul Knowles assisted by Andrew Caddies
Movement by Emily Gardner and Christine Niering

Show will also be seen: Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 27 Aug 18 Sept; King's Head, Islington in February 2005

2004-07-21 14:27:59