OUT OF THE BLUE. To 25 March.

Tour

OUT OF THE BLUE
by Andrea Earl

Rejects Revenge theatre company (www.rejectsrevenge.com) Tour to 25 March 2005
Runs 2hr One interval

Review: Ranjit Khutan at Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton 8 March 2005

A poetic fiction based on the true events of the submarine Thetis, which sank on her trial dive in 1939.Kathleen Kelly is full of excitement and trepidation on the day of the dive. Her father worked on the sub and attends the signing off' party but decides to stay aboard. What follows is a story in which themes of loss, bereavement and later hope are explored as Kathleen's father and a hundred other men are lost in a disaster caused by a tiny speck of enamel paint.

This is a superbly written and extremely well thought-out piece of work. Video projection, original piano composition, clever lighting and physicality make for a stunning theatrical experience. The set is industrial mangles, metal pipes and structures, buckets, tin baths, metal sheets suspended from the ceiling, chains all used to create different sound and landscapes both in the submarine and on land.

The cast work well together and create scenes that you're not expecting or use objects around them to create the environment excellent examples include a car drive and the boats' search at the start of the second act. The company have captured the haunting emotions of that day and the aftermath for the community and present this in a chilling and sensitive manner.

Captain Bolus, Mr Bradshaw/Nun/Minister/Secretary: Nicholas Collet
Mrs Bolus/Mary Kelly/Rose/Maria/Woman in Bar: Fionnuala Dorrity
Stoker Arnold/Priest/Navy Man: Tim Hibbard
Jack Kelly/Navy man/Nun/Tug Boat Crew: Sean Kearney
Lieutenant Woods/Billy Kelly/Judge: Ben O'Sullivan
Trevor/William/Tugboat Skipper/Pilot: Mathew Steer
Kathleen Kelly/Elsie/Barmaid/Mother: Julie Walker.

Director: John Wright
Designer: Michael Breakley
Lighting/video: Mike Wright
Composer/Musical Director: Simon James

2005-03-13 10:54:32