ORVIN: CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Scarborough
ORVIN: CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
by Alan Ayckbourn Music by Denis King
National Youth Music Theatre at Stephen Joseph Theatre To 23 August 2003
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 21 August, 23 August 2.30pm
BSL Signed 22 August
Runs 2hr One interval
TICKETS: 01723 370541
Review: Timothy Ramsden 8 August
Wickedly funny, musically witty new musical cast at full strength.
Alan Ayckbourn's work for young people has often played with notions of storytelling. Orvin's relation with the Celestial Chorus here recalls similar struggles between storytellers and characters in the earlier work
Orvin's a sleepy squire. Arriving late with his lord's body-armour he wipes the knight out in scene one. But, insistent on telling their story, the Celestials insist Orvin stand in for his boss.
He's not cut out for it. Tim Webb's nervous figure only rises to argument with the Chorus when he's desperate and survives by helpful dollops of narrative aid from his author, up to the final duel, with its body-count of Jacobean proportions.
The National Youth Music Theatre cast is magnificent. If there's occasional stiffness in handling some of the spoken dialogue, that's no different from any production primarily cast for singing voices. And it is occasional. Singing is fine, from soloists and the Celestial chorus, seated complacently on high among the audience, complete with their own harpist.
Ayckbourn's production is as crisp and witty as ever, the entire cast responding with commitment, discipline and evident, always appropriately directed, enthusiasm. There's not a moment of 'showing-off'. There are many moments of wit, intelligence and care in the performances.
From the likes of Delcine, princess prize-bride, who shows such sympathy for her feeble lover. And in his boasting, cut short at the sight of blood. (Her devotion, that stops short at having to hear Varian's overlong, morbid poetry, contains the seeds of many an unhappy Ayckbourn marriage).
Then there's the villainous prince whose lust for power is undercut as the plot denies him the chance to sing his big solo till he's dying or the servant who's repeatedly rescued by an interruption from descending into a clearly imminent risque rhyme.
It's a company triumph, yet two performances must be mentioned. From the royal throne an amazingly convincing portrayal of decrepit age by a young actor. And speaking up for the servant classes, Orvin's loyal lover receives a performance that's instinctively right in every action and reaction. But, it's champagne all-round for this bright new show.
Walmund: Lee Drage
Ulmar: David Moss
Orvin: Tim Webb
Prince Dedrick: Dominic Tighe
Skeets: Simon Eves
Princess Delcine: Georgina White
Lord Varian: Ben Beechey
Ola: Anja Rodford
King Albern: Jonathan Scott
Archbishop: Jasper Brownrigg
Courtier: Jonathan McGovern
Mayor of Zeva: Ryan Milne
Celestial Chorus: Gemma Hawkins, chloe Hart, Oenka Drapan, Lucy Page, Isabel Ramsey, Freya Brett, John Sandeman, James Benn, Owen Visser, Alexander Nicholson, Matt Willock, Ewan Jones
Courtiers, servants, soldiers, Citizens etc.: Aretha Ayeh, Lisa Clifford, Mark Cunningham, Joe Tate, Harry Baker, Helen Brame, Laura Emerson, Luke Fairbotham, Nicola Holliday, Billy Howle, Robyn Kilpatrick, Oliver Lewis, Laura Oldfield, Lauren Terry, Matthew Tinker
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Designer: Pip Leckenby
Lighting: Kath Geraghty
Sound: Ben Vickers
Musical Director: Steven Markwick
Assistant Musical Director: Rebecca Applin
Choreographer: Sheila Carter
Costume: Christine Wall
Fight director: Christopher Main
Associate director: Laurie Sansom
2003-08-13 09:36:30