THE HAUNTED COMMODE. To 24 January.
Ipswich/Woodbridge.
THE HAUNTED COMMODE
by Julian Harries music by Pat Whymark.
Sir John Mills Theatre Ipswich To 10 January.
15-20, 22-23, 26-27, 29Dec-3 , 5-10 Jan 7.45pm.
Mat Wed, Sat & 26, 29-30 Dec 4.15pm except 24 Dec 2.30pm.
NB Many performances sold out.
then Seckford Theatre Woodbridge School Burkitt Road Woodbridge IP12 4JH 13-24 January 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed 2.30pm Sat 4.15pm.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
TICKETS: 01473 211498.
www.easternangles.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 12 December.
An enjoyable evening, but the comic formula’s become predictable.
Less Ghost Train than Ghost Station; Julian Harries here assembles his benighted passengers in the old days of steam for a compendium of spooky travellers’ tales that takes on the form of a compilation chiller. As in 1945’s Dead of Night everyone has a ghostly tale to tell, before events loop on themselves and apparent release from the cycle merely returns us to the dramatic inferno.
It’s a pity that, in his 11th Angles Christmas script, Harries couldn’t have taken his audiences further than repetitively reductive humour (swapping ‘o’s for ‘a’s, leading to a crop of innuendo that suggests he regards such things as his forte) and develop his undoubted skills of storytelling, which at moments here, helped by the company’s technical expertise, creates a strong sense of mystery.
The barrage of tinsel-wrapped smut soon becomes wearisome (though not, apparently, to many in the audience). Nudges are nudged and winks winked beyond the point of wit. A shame; the portmanteau format is a fine opportunity for leading audiences from such stuff, via a stretch of the imagination, to recapture the near-lost art of the comedy-thrillee.
After an opening story that reveals the title as a cheat – we see a haunted chamber-pot, but that’s hardly the full commode - and a joky story made lurid by a couple of cannibalistic English schoolboys, full horrors start being supped after the interval with international rivalry between Egyptologists English (honest, plucky) and Germanic (monocled, dastardly and absurdly-named). Far wittier, to be fair, than Ken Hill’s full-length piece in the same genre, recently at Hornchurch, it's followed by a last tale in which chills finally begin to balance the inevitable, predictable humour.
There’s a genuine frisson too to the final frame, where the location gains new significance, and just desserts are served up. It shows Harries could, if only he would, use humour to increase suspense in a truly chilly winter’s tale. Meanwhile, the five actors give full value, the author – back from last year’s secession to proper acting (the RSC as it’s known) - revealing a cunning comic line in facial expressions and vocal tics.
Florence Humbleby/Janet/Madame Chambourcy/Evangeline/Lydia/Board Member: Louise Shuttleworth.
Harold Rush/Lord Floppington/Sir Archibald Tootes/Captain/Carlos/Gunter Lunchfarter/Winters: Julian Harries.
Lavinia Quidless/Joanie/Lady Wetsam-Daly/Ank-er-Saweh/Lucy: Tracy Elster.
Professor Robert Trimble/Marmaduke/Sister Bridget/Amelios/Sir Bertram/Sir Freddie Nicholas Agnew/Harry Fitch.
Mr Crackers/Imp Bill Shortly/Hazlitt/Hairlos/Mr Tate: Simon Nock.
Director: Julian Harries.
Designer: Stephanie Baguet.
Lighting: Steve Cooney.
Sound: Penny Griffin/Pat Whymark.
Musical Director: Pat Whymark.
Costume: Faby Pym.
2008-12-16 10:06:51