Blue Remembered Hills till 4th March.

Coventry

BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS
by Dennis Potter.

Belgrade Theatre To 4 March 2005
Mon-Sat 7.5pm Mat 26 Feb, 2 March 2.30pm
Runs 1hr 25min No interval

TICKETS: 024 7655 3055
www.belgrade.co.uk
Review: Jan Pick

Stealing back to childhoodIt would be very easy to over-balance this Dennis Potter play into an embarrassing spectacle - adults trying to convince an audience that they are nine-year old children. But, thanks to the excellent cast at the Belgrade Theatre last night, the audience was given a closely observed, wonderfully realistic and nostalgic glimpse of childhood.

Being a Potter play there are very dark edges to the drama which in some ways has echoes of The Lord of the Flies', with the cruelties of childhood explored and exposed alongside the uncertainties and joys. There is plenty of humour, but mixed with genuine grief and fear which adds depth and interest to the evening.

The ensemble-playing is exemplary, without a weak link in sight. Every one of the cast convincingly creates and maintains the illusion of childhood throughout but I particularly enjoyed the performances of Sandra Maitland as the less popular, less pretty, but very determined Audrey, Andy Hockley as the bullish but slightly insecure Peter, and the beautifully sensitive treatment of Donald, the vulnerable victim of his background and circumstances, by Robert Calvert. They are helped by a clever set design by Tim McQuillen-Wright, and lighting and sound that is both evocative and effective.

There are some frighteningly realistic effects, particularly at the end where smoke billows into the auditorium enveloping the audience and involving them in a tragedy of unintentional cruelty. In this production, the Belgrade has provided an evening that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

So - never mind the weather, make the effort to see this before the end of the run. You won't be disappointed!

Raymond: Patrick Bridgman
Donald: Robert Calvert
Angela: Janette Cross
Willie: Chris Garner
Peter: Andy Hockley
Audrey: Sandra Maitland
John: Christopher Wells

Director: Nigel West
Designer: Tim McQuillen-Wright
Lighting: Robin Carter
Sound: Chris Mock
Composer: Robert Scott
DSM: Jane Andrews
Fight Director: Alison De Burgh

2005-02-26 18:12:59