BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS: Potter, New Vic, N'castle Under Lyme, till Sat 28 Sept

BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS: Dennis Potter
New Vic, Newcastle Under Lyme
Tkts: 01782 717962
Runs: 1h 15m, no interval, till 28 September
Eves: 7.30 Mat Sat 28: 2.30
Review: Rod Dungate, 14 September 2002

A telling performance, wonderful ensemble, full of humour and something very important to say.
I am about to write a heresy: I've always found BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS in it's original TV version sentimental, suffering a slow death by drowning in the yuk factor. What's surprising is that the play is much stronger in the theatre, at least it's certainly true in this strong, ensemble presentation. In the theatre we are much more able to turn an impression of a thing into the real thing in our heads than when we are watching television where the context of a performance is uncompromisingly real. On television the medium gets in the way of the HILL's message whereas in an acting space the medium makes the message possible.

As Potter unfolds the story and ultimate tragedy (their 'loss of Eden') of a group of children in the summer holidays of 1943, his writing for them is rose-tinted and there is a vagueness about their ages although they tell us they are about to enter Standard Two. However, these weaknesses pale into insignificance against the rich veins of tragedy and comedy Potter mines as the young people navigate their day. There are fights to see who's going to be Number Two (Number One is mentioned constantly but never appears), power games over who is whose friend and the appalling bullying of the weakest so that, as an individual, you are never bottom of the pile.

Donald Duck, in a heartrendingly understated performance by Paul McCrink, is for me the beacon of the play. Donald is the child who stands no chance from the moment he's born: abused by his lone mother, abandoned by his father, he is the butt of the other children's crueller sides. Donald is only released from his misery when the other children, caught up in a terrible and fatal game, lock him into a burning barn. Potter wrote this play many years before two children, caught up in a similar fatal game, killed a toddler. And when that happened our popular press attempted to rid us of any sense of responsibility as they screamed THE FACE OF EVIL. Potter's play does not let us forget that the Donald Ducks are still with us, they are our responsibility a point beautifully underscored for us in Sansom's production as Potter's ironic use of the title is brought home to us.

Terrific performances all round from the team. In particular Helena Lymbery's plain-looking Audrey is outstanding: it's a gem of a part and Lymbery doesn't miss a trick as she struggles to ape her pretty friend, Angela. She's a constant source of laughter but accompanying it is our pain.

Jess Curtis's set shows, in its telling simplicity, how flexible the in-the-round space can be.

Angela: Heather Craney
John: John Gully
Willie: Alex Jones
Peter: Russell Layton
Audrey: Helena Lymbery
Donald Duck: Paul McCrink
Raymond: Nick Raggett

A child: Joshua Cooke/ Callum Forrester O'Neill

Director: Laurie Sansom
Designer: Jess Curtis
Fight Director: Renny Krupinski
Lighting: Jo Dawson
Sound: James Earls-Davis
Voice Coach: Mark Langley

2002-09-16 09:21:58