HAVE A NICE LIFE. To 29 January.
London
HAVE A NICE LIFE
by Conor Mitchell
Union Theatre 204 Union Street SE1 To 29 January 2005
Tue-Sat 7.30pm
Runs 2hr One interval
TICKETS: 020 7261 9876
www.uniontheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 14 January
Reality setting shows up the false notes in a so-so musical.Conor Mitchell's therapy musical has already had quite a nice life since its 2002 inception. First performed by 8 friends rehearsing for a week, it now has the luxury of a new cast putting it together over 9 days. A brave lot they are, spread round the single-row circle among the Union's audience, at Neville's soul-searching (or navel-gazing) session. The layout makes for simultaneous intimacy and detachment, mirroring the piece's internal divide between sympathy and satire.
This capable cast copes beautifully, even through Mitchell's weakest patches. Hard to take seriously (even as humour) the lame gag over one participant's forever mistaken name, or flower-wearing Chris who believes his blind-date's had an accident rather than that she walked away from him. Denial washes ocean-like over the group but even Denial needs credibility.
Life's group origin presumably let characters fit with cast. Yet the piece would benefit from a wider age-range among players. Room 12 (the supposed setting) is full of people having life crises early; some situations, and dialogue would gain from a sense of more years under the belt. Though that's taking the issues seriously, never too safe in a musical. When the cast begin dancing or rotating in contrary motion round the set (a wooden stool) there's the sense of Dennis Potter characters breaking into sudden song.
But Potter made the mix of mundane reality and romantic songs integral to his story-telling. Mitchell's story moves fitfully forward, characters being available for the immediate situation rather than developing (how much development does a singly therapy session hope for anyway?). The cast project interest in their characters; it's a pity Carl Patrick's gruff Frank isn't given more scope, while Sioned Jones' Sheila is surely on the point of inviting the class back for a cup of tea.
Stefanie Moore's angry Barbara claims to have an African living inside here; successful therapy might not bring him or her out, but would at least discover if the inner (wo)man had a passport. Instead, the nearest to revelation is a general instruction to throw away your name-tags. Is that it? It seems a lame, dismissive conclusion.
Chris: Mark Dugdale
Jean: Caroline Hartley
Amy: Kira Lauren
Frank: Carl Patrick
Barbara: Stefanie Moore
Neville: Jamie Anderson
Sheila: Sioned Jones
Director/Designer: Conor Mitchell
Lighting: Steve Miller
2005-01-17 11:55:44