The Day That Kevin Came till 21 June
Nottingham
THE DAY THAT KEVIN CAME: Andy Barrett
Nottingham Playhouse: Tkts 0115 941 9419
Runs: 2h 20m: one interval: till 21 June
7.45pm
Review: Jen Mitchell: 4th June 2003
A good-natured comedy in which the small town local heroes triumph over Hollywood giants. The evening begins long before we take our seats in the auditorium. We are serenaded over our pre-theatre drinks by the Kirkby Colliery Welfare Band, a perfect start to a summer's evening entertainment.
When the committee of the local welfare decide to make a publicity film based around the fact that Byron is buried in the local church, they attract the attention of Hollywood film producers Starlight Productions who spot an opportunity to relaunch Kevin Costner's languishing career. And thus a series of conflicts is established.
The local boy Darren, who has taken the role of Byron to heart, is ousted by Costner and relegated to the role of Shelley. Darren's wife Jenny happens to hold Costner in such high esteem that Darren is relegated in more ways than one and has to resort to quoting instantly forgettable lines from Costner's films to arouse any carnal interest from his wife.
Darren's situation parallels that of the town's, his work at the local chocolate factory is unrewarding and apparently to end soon. The industry on which the town was built has long since left and people are seemingly torn between two camps – those stuck in the past (the golden era of the mining industry) and those who wish to move the town forward, with Hollywood's helping hand.
The comedy is gentle, sometimes playing on the irony of the situation and occasionally turning to farce. The conversation between the two elderly gentlemen trapped in the toilets is at once poignant and rib ticklingly funny.
Strong messages are delivered with a velvet glove in this easygoing experience. The destruction of the mining industry and the desecration of small towns and villages are explored along with themes of human desire to do good. The welfare secretary Horace, brilliantly portrayed by Ben Roberts, doggedly pursues the path he believes is best for the town even at the expense of his own standing and credibility within the community.
The set manages to encourage a realistic view of the action whilst challenging the audience to take a step back with the intermittent use of screen and film.
The use of film to take us to the States and bring us the amateurish efforts of the local community is a useful device to prevent us from becoming too emotionally involved with the action. There is a definite drive to prevent the audience taking sides, ensuring we step back to appreciate the tragedy and comedy of the situation.
The Day That Kevin Came is a local play that clearly rings true for many members of the audience who have lived through such troubled times and faced them with humour and dignity.
The acting is entirely human throughout and the fact that one is never really sure where one's sympathy ought to lie is a credit to the strength of the whole cast. A good deal of the evening was spent in hearty laughter, maybe the most effective method of getting any message across.
Terry: Robin Bowerman
Mary: Kirsty Bushell
Darren Hobson: Nicholas Gallagher
Jenny: Sarah Hadland
Catherine: Janet Henfry
Don Winkler: Stuart Milligan
Horace: Ben Roberts
Bill/Martin: David Walker
Director: Giles Croft
Designer: Mark Bailey
Lighting Designer: Jeanine Davies
Original Music/Sound Designer: Matthew Bugg
2003-06-06 17:25:39