TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT till 25 October
Oldham
TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT
by Graham Greene.
Adapted by Giles Havergal.
A Coliseum Theatre Production at the Oldham Coliseum until 25 October.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm; Fri 8pm; Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs: 2hr 30min - One interval.
TICKETS: 0161 624 2829.
http://www.coliseum.org.uk.
Review: Stoon Barar 16 October 2008.
How to get arrested in 12 languages.
Less mainstream than the Coliseum’s usual fare, Travels with My Aunt, adapted from Graham Greene’s 1969 comic novel is much more about the tourists than their destinations. Especially Henry Pulling, our naïve Englishman abroad, experiencing the bureaucracy, corruption and strange ways of Johnny Foreigner. Giles Havergal’s 1991 adaptation strips the action to 4 actors – all males.
Each takes turns to play Henry, stereotypical early-retired bank manager, who meets his 76 year old Aunt Augusta for the first time in over fifty years at his mother's funeral. Unwittingly sucked into her world, before Henry can say “kiss me quick” he’s on board the Orient Express.
Three actors play a host of folk Henry encounters en route. Some recur, being assigned their own musical jingle – Henry’s is the Mr Benn (‘Watch with Mother’) theme; appropriate given his permanent pin-stripe, bowler-hat and escape from his mundane existence to experience distant adventures.
Only Aunt Augusta is afforded the luxury of one actor, Kieran Buckeridge, who lends her a deliciously sneering tone between Kenneth Williams & Peter Cook. She is the play’s heartbeat; we forgive her faded glamour as a septuagenarian of the swinging sixties...sex, drugs and...more sex in her case.
The stylish set is a simple white backdrop with perforated cut-off doors and windows above; further homage to Mr Benn (a colourless version of his Festive Road home). It allows numerous entrance/exits and at one point wonderfully transforms into a series of prison cells. Yet it’s neutral, akin to blown-up blank pages, allowing the viewer (like a reader) to conjure up images of faraway lands.
The long first act is slightly hard going, featuring too many faces and places. After the break we stay put in South America and the characters enjoy longer stage time. Robin Simpson is perfect as the CIA plant and Chris Hannon creaks splendidly as Visconti (Augusta’s flame), also bringing belated humanity to the part of Wordsworth (despite a shaky Guyanan accent). Tony Jayawardena adds the stiffest of upper lips to Henry and amuses as Miss Keene and a Met bobby in Joyce Branagh’s slickly assembled vision of this play.
Kieran Buckeridge.
Chris Hannon.
Tony Jayawardena.
Robin Simpson.
Director: Joyce Branagh.
Designer: Sophie Kahn.
Lighting: Tom Weir
Sound: Lorna Munden.
On the Book: Emma Cook.
2008-10-19 15:37:48