TEN CENTS A DANCE: Doyle, Watermill, till 26 October

TEN CENTS A DANCE: John Doyle
Watermill – West Berkshire Playhouse
Box Office: 01635 46044
Runs 1 ½ hours: no interval: till 26th October 2002

Review: Stewart McGill

A shere delight from its opening notes. Magical.
Music – theatre creations at the Watermill are one of the joys of the regional theatre scene in this country. John Doyle and his multi-talented company lead the way in developing innovative and memorable experiences, by the river in this beautiful theatre setting. TEN CENTS A DANCE celebrating the partnership of Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart is a sheer delight from the opening notes.

In a year when the genius of Rogers and Hart has been well celebrated, the Watermill’s unusual cabaret is in the front line of shows asking us to reassess their genius together. The partnership’s output is often overshadowed by the Oscar Hammerstein replacement but for beauty, nostalgia and evocative memories, give me Hart.

John Doyle and Sarah Travis have conceived an evening that places songs in an evolving context of memory and romance. A pianist (Christopher Hamilton) interacts with five reflections of a woman and through the songs and the economic but elegant staging audiences are able to create their own history and share memories through the sequence of evocative songs.

The company of six actor-musicians are superb proving that Doyle’s concept of interactive music-theatre can work perfectly in a chamber setting rather than the often overblown designs required by audiences in the West End.

TEN CENTS A DANCE is no cheap cabaret but elegant and sophisticated entertainment from a company who go from strength to strength. This will, no doubt, be one of the highlights of the upcoming International Festival of Music Theatre in Cardiff later in the Autumn.

The creative team, actor-musicians and Watermill’s inspired management must feel pride in this achievement and, I suspect, with John Doyle anticipate further explorations. Magical.

Cast
Johnny: Christopher Hamilton
Miss Jones: Lisa Featherston/Rebecca Jackson/Nina Lucking/Karen Mann/Rosemary Williams

Conceived and directed by John Doyle
Musical Direction and arrangements by Sarah Travis
Designed by Mark Bailey
Lighting Designed by Richard G. Jones

Full credit must be given to regular collaborator, Sarah Travis whose arranging of the score is magnificent.

2002-09-20 13:23:41