EIGHT MILES HGH. To 2 July.
Bolton
EIGHT MILES HIGH
by Jim Cartwright
Octagon Theatre To 2 July 2005
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 18, 25, 29 June 2pm
Audio-described 29 June 7.30pm
BSL Signed 22 June
Post-show discussion 14 June
Runs 3hr 10min One interval
TICKETS: 01204 520661
www.octagonbolton.co.uk/EightMilesHigh.htm
Review: Timothy Ramsden 11 June
Summer of love makes for a hot ticket.14 years on Jim Cartwright's 1991 love-n'-peace musical now looks back 38 years to the summer of love and rock festivals, when history seemed about to end once the world saw the simple logic of the hippy dream. The next step after 1967 was actually 1968, when, as Mark Kurlansky's book on the year shows, Soviet tanks invaded Prague and Nixon moved into the White House. Woodstock's music and marijuana, and that of Cartwright's imagined Lancashire musicfest, led to the emergence of the non-consensual new Right.
Cartwright's end hints at the dream souring. Studded with songs from chanted omms' to whiter shades of pale, the free field-festival ends with a few stragglers on unamplified acoustic guitar singing The Times They are A' Changin'' while 2 capitalists prepare to manipulate their idealism for commercial profit.
This celebration of love and peace, or naivety and innocence, can be sceptical or predictable. It's as certain housewife Jean, who joined the hippy convoy on impulse, will change from drab skirt and apron to flower with power in loose, bright garments, as it is the reporter, hands greasy from an offsite bacon-and-egg roll, will traduce the young people who trust him. As he does; and as Jean finally goes back home.
But mainly, it's party time, middle-aged audience members singing along as their parents did to older shows with wartime songs. Even the Geordie Hell's Angel (a biker from Byker, geddit?) is good at heart. Richard Foxton and Thomas Weir throw in plenty of bright colours in their set (a hippy van especially) and concert lighting. The audience make their own contribution, especially those coming in costume. From their privileged front places they're engaged in dances and apparently have their own post-interval tent-sex party.
For the rest, take it as you will; is the marriage of 2 people from different social backgrounds a triumph or a folly of the event? Outstanding in either case is Andrew Schofield, as the MC who offers the couple blessings of avatars whose names he can't read and as an experienced hippy with tales to tell from round the world.
Jean/Yogi Woman: Eithne Browne
Hell's Angel/Landowner: Phil Corbitt
Celia/Patsy: Zita Frith
Al/Jed: Bob Golding
Jasmine/Lola: Rosie Jenkins
Tod: Adam Keast
Jay: Jake Norton
MC/Traveller: Andrew Schofield
Reporter/John/Yogi Man: Simeon Truby
Spangle/Hippie: Francis Tucker
Director: Mark Babych
Designer: Richard Foxton
Lighting: Thomas Weir
Sound: Andy Smith
Musical Director: Howard Gay
2005-06-12 12:14:22