THE FARM. To 7 June.
Tour
THE FARM
by Richard Benson adapted by Daniel Buckroyd.
New Perspectives Theatre Company Tour to 7 July 2008.
Runs 2hr One interval.
Touring Info: www.newperspectives.co.uk.
Review: Alan Geary: 25 April 2008 at Lakesdie Arts Centre Nottingham.
A rewarding play; and its political message isn’t too crudely peddled.
Some previous productions from New Perspectives have been over-reliant on the right-on nature of their underlying political message. They’ve been a bit negligent when it comes to trifles like acting, text, plot, and so on.
But this one gets it right. Whatever your views on the onward march of capitalism over the British countryside, whether or not you agree with its critique of supermarkets and their strangle-hold on demand as well as supply, you’re likely to appreciate The Farm as an elegy on a disappearing way of life
Things drift a bit after the climax of selling the farm; but adapter/director Daniel Buckroyd has made an effective transposition of Richard Benson’s autobiographical book to the stage. It’s well constructed; the main plot is set nine years ago but it often dives further back as each character takes centre stage to tell their own story.
The contrast between plodding stay-at-home Guy (Jai Armstrong) and brother Richard (Peter McCamley), up from London - he’s in the media - is a well-worn cliché but it works here. As central character and main narrator torn between his roots and his current life, McCamley is splendid; John Walters, as his father, a figure of real pathos, is entirely convincing. They’re well supported by Maggie Tagney (the mother) and Angie Cape (sister Helen).
Sound effects, used to add depth and physical context to the action, are outstanding. So is an economical and imaginative set; when the actors take bits of prop out of the back of a cargo container it’s part of the interest and humour of the play.
Guy: Jai Armstrong.
Helen: Angie Cape.
Richard: Peter McCamley.
Pauline: Maggie Tagney.
Gordon: John Walters.
Director: Daniel Buckroyd.
Designer: Ian Teague.
Lighting: Stuart Crohill.
Sound: Tom Lishman.
2008-04-27 23:22:27