AWAKING BEAUTY. To 17 January.
Scarborough.
AWAKING BEAUTY
by Alan Ayckbourn music by Denis King.
Stephen Joseph Theatre (The Round) To 17 January 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 31 Dec, 3, 8, 10, 17 Jan 2.30pm.
Audio-described 10 Jan 2.30pm.
BSL Signed 7 Jan.
Captioned 6 Jan.
Runs 2hr 35min One interval.
TICKETS: 01723 370541.
www.sjt.uk.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 December.
Fantasy fun works best on the short-scale.
As Pigcutter, the human joiner besotted with Carabosse, the Witch who transformed him into a pig, says, “The things we do for love.” That’s the title of an Alan Ayckbourn play, written like most for Scarborough, though unlike others it’s not for playing in-the-round. As Awaking Beauty is Ayckbourn’s final new play before he steps-down as the Stephen Joseph’s Artistic Director after 36 years, it might be thought there’d be a few retrospective references. Quite the contrary.
Instead, the playwright who avoided the fashion for obscenities in dialogue while most around were using them for gritty authenticity, and as someone whose Christmas plays have been billed for family audiences, he leaves Scarborough with several “bugger”s and a couple of noticeable “f**k”s.
Written with composer colleague Denis King, this musical has its chorus provide not only many song accompaniments but sound effects too. No sound designer’s credited, but there hasn’t been generally for Ayckbourn plays in Scarborough, even when sound has been a vital dramatic component. For Ayckbourn has provided his own sound-tracks - until now, when he hands the task to his cast; as finely subtle a “goodbye” as might be.
Beauty begins with a Prince who’s yet another Ayckbourn incompetent male - they exist in his realistic and fantastic stories - waking the Sleeping Beauty. The play finds comic potential in high-bred people coping with mundane problems: poverty, menial jobs, babies crying through the night.
Less certain is the parallel story, with Carabosse falling for the Prince, pursuing him and losing her magic powers as a result. So far, so fascinating, but it’s unclear how, in a non-magical world, she’s evicted from a cheap hotel for non-payment then has a bag of cash to leave Aurora (whom she’s narrowly avoided poisoning with a Snow Whitish red apple) and her prince.
A near-capacity audience enjoyed the production, particularly well acted by Anna Francolini’s Carabosse and Ben Fox as her hapless artisan. It works best as individual sketches; the format itself doesn’t really sustain a full-length play, though Denis King’s music is always attractive, often in a style matching Aurora’s mid-century dress.
Carabosse: Anna Francolini.
Prince: Duncan Patrick.
Princess Aurora: Alice Fearn.
Pigcutter: Ben Fox.
First Narrator/De Vince: Verity Quade.
Second Narrator/Miss Chasum: Annalene Beechey.
Third Narrator/Midwife: Helen French.
Fourth Narrator/Sorceress: Matthew White.
Fifth Narrator/Estate Agent: Ian McLarnon.
Sixth Narrator/Geoff: Jon-Paul Hevey.
Director: Alan Ayckbourn.
Designer: Michael Holt.
Lighting: Jason Taylor.
Musical Director: Jonathan Williams.
Choreographer: Sheila Carter.
Pippet Make/advisor: Lee Threadgld.
Wigs: Delicite Gillham.
2008-12-31 23:32:26