Lone Star Mark Three. To 28 May.
Salisbury
LONE STAR MARK THREE
by Mike Akers
Salisbury Playhouse To 28 May 2005
Mon-Wed 7.30pm ThurSat 8.00p.m. Mat 28 May 2.30 p.m.
Runs 2hr 6min One Interval
TICKETS: 01722 320333
www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review: Mark Courtice
Plot tows this new caravan play.At the doors of Salisbury Playhouse we are warned of loud noises, gunshots, bright flashing lights and non-toxic smoke in Mike Akers's new play. This promises a good deal more interest that in fact is on offer here. An enormous amount happens as Akers yokes the world of caravanners (which he would have us believe is a murky mix of lust, illegitimacy, attempted murder and industrial espionage) with the washed up remnants of the Northern Soul fanatics of the seventies. The problem is getting involved in any of it.
The plot is so busy and unwieldy that the characters don't have a chance, often appearing to be only driven by plot, not internal motivation, making it difficult to care for them. People ignore the obvious; big moments come from revelations that have been telegraphed for some time.
There are some good gags (many of them taking swipes at stick-in-the-mud Wiltshire) and sharp moments. The play has some interesting ideas touching on how we treat travellers, and a nice moment when a character describes his tattooed arm as the picture history of his life.
There are notions of parenthood and responsibility, but Akers does not seem to think that ideas are in themselves entertaining. The big emotions on show at the climax come as a shock, so ruthlessly have the gags stopped anything developing.
The production faithfully delivers the demands of the script, but cannot overcome the physical constraints of a play with the first three-quarters confined to the interior of a caravan. Kit Surrey's set revolves three caravan interiors and part of Salisbury Plain efficiently with some neat touches of detail. The technical crew meet the demands of a script that needs snow and storms, candlelit assignations and all that noise and smoke, with brio.
However old they get, Northern Soulers will still have all the moves, they just do them slower; clever choreography makes a dance-off between two old guys funny and excruciating at the same time. The acting is better than the dancing but it is only Paul Shelley who gets everything right in a performance of authority and passion.
Colin: Adam James
Lynne: Sandra Huggett
May: Pamela Miles
Albert: Will Knightley
Jeff: Julius D'Silva
Harold: Paul Shelley
Director: Caroline Leslie
Designer: Kit Surrey
Lighting; Peter Hunter
Choreographer: Alex Reynolds
2005-05-28 01:24:59