RASPUTIN. Natural Theatre Company on tour

Tour

RASPUTIN
by Christopher Dickins and Ralph Oswick

Natural Theatre Company Touring until 1 December, then 8 March – 11 May 2002.
Runs 2 hr 25min One interval

Review Hazel Brown 23 October at Poole Arts Centre

Musical romp through Russian affairs. A little knowledge of early twentieth century Russian history and music adds to this evening of irreverent fun, but is by no means essential. It is a musical and historical riot. Chris Dickins has plundered the Russian repertoire, including Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky as well as gypsy, cossack and Russian folk music, with a sidelong glance at the music theatre styles of Slade, Sondheim and Weill.

The cast of seven actors sing, dance and play a huge variety of musical instruments from flutes to trombones, accordions to rhythm sticks with amazing skill and aplomb.

The plot is a wonderful fabrication, dealing with Rasputin's rise to fame and eventual death brought about by Anya Vyrubova (Heather Phoenix), the keeper of the Tsarina's ill-tempered pooch. The characters are drawn from historical fact, but there accuracy ends.

Ralph Oswick, complete with mad-eye contact lenses, makes a rascally Rasputin and a brilliant Mrs Rasputin. Look out for the long-johns on her line – they brought the house down in Poole! I shall never feel the same about The Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet as performed by Rasputin's coterie of 'female' fans in splendid Ascot hats.

Cross dressing abounds and the Natural's celebrated 'Nanny' makes a couple of fleeting appearances. The skating pas de deux in Gorky Park, secret messages on a nest of Russian dolls, the shooting of Stolypin and recovery of his body in the interval, the gossiping washer women that start and finish the play are just a few of the masterly comic scenes.

If you haven't experienced Natural's zany brand of music theatre before, you are in for a treat; if you have, then this one is not to be missed.

2001-11-01 01:29:44