WALLOP MRS COX, Rose, Hornsby, Birmingham Rep till 13 July
WALLOP MRS COX: Euan Rose and Laurie Hornsby
Bham Rep: Tkts 0121 236 4455
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval, till 13 July
Review: Rod Dungate, 4 July 2002
One of the most enjoyable nights out I've had for ages.I always maintain that one of the decisions I got right in life was to move to Birmingham. This has puzzled many people at different times, but it shouldn't if they see John Adams's spectacular production of WALLOP MRS COX - spectacular not because of effects or setting or music but because of the wonderful, diverse and extraordinarily talented community cast. The huge Rep acting space is almost always full of people and as you look around seeing them in all their shapes, sizes and ages it looks exactly like Birmingham on a busy Saturday. Marvellous.
The play starts with a representation of the major 18 month rebuilt of the city centre (the Bull Ring) happening at this very time. It flashes back to 1915 when a young Emily Partridge makes her appearance. Later she meets her husband-to-be there: the play, in a huge epic sweep, tells the story of this remarkable, Bull Ring Market woman, Emily Cox – she had 13 children, 71 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Brummies are portrayed in all their feistiness, obstinacy, cheerfulness and generosity of spirit (the latter being the main thing I noticed about the people when I came to live here.) But most of all Birmingham is represented as a place that encompasses change (sometimes eagerly sometimes warily) but with a stalwart determination to succeed. In a way, the production is, itself, proof of this ability.
Helping us find our way through the story is Radio WM presenter Malcolm Boyden. His friendly manner engages and his anger at man's inhumanity to man (the wars, the Birmingham pub bombings) is direct and moving. It's a pity that writers Rose and Hornsby have stuck to rhyming verse for all Boyden's direct address narrative. It's sometimes a straight-jacket, hindering his easeful communication with us and, at times like discussion of Rommel's Desert Panzer divisions or the pub bombings, feels inappropriate, diminishing their seriousness.
But this is more than made up for by the gigantic array of talent. There's a cast of over 50 and wherever you look, whenever you look actors are communicating with each other and with us. There are so many delights it may be unfair to pick out a few, but I'm going to.
Young adult Emily Cox and older Emily (Gemma Layton – my goodness she packs a punch, literally – and Sharron Burns) both stop the show with terrific numbers, WHAT ABOUT US and I STILL MISS HIM, and oldest Emily's final monologue is movingly played by Sheila Palmer – a small figure in a big armchair in a great open space.
John Clay's Holy Joe with his gospel FEED MY LAMBS shouldn't be missed, nor should the ensemble REDFERN'S TRIPE. Richard Leeson (who fills the Rep auditorium with his personality whether singing or dancing) and Mark Breeze amuse mightily with their raunchy THE BACK OF RACKHAMS: in this they are significantly aided and abetted by a wickedly funny elderly lady-of-the-night Edna Cobley. Truly remarkable is young Laura Ellis with UNCLE ERNIE which she puts over as a kind of Music Hall number with a confidence, humour and panache that stops you breathing.
John Adams – who told me 'I'm so proud of them all' – should be equally as proud of himself for pulling this one off. It's one of the most enjoyable nights out I've had for ages.
Children First
Sally-Ann Adams, Joseph Bates, Margot Davies, Amelia Douglas, Daniel Evans, Daniel Green, Alisha Harris, Jacob Lloyd, James Anthony Pariera, Gillian Peters, Roy Roney, Samantha Roney, Tegan Shea, Natasha Simms, Natalie Smith, Jake Warnock, Max Williams
Now the Others
Daniel Anderson, Michael Barry, Hugh Blackwood, Malcolm Boyden, Mark Breeze, Darren Brennan, Linda Brennan, Daniel Brisco, Sharron Burns, John Clay, Edna Cobley, Jennifer Ellis, Laura Ellis, Claire Farr, Kate Ford, Debra Fowler, Jayne Ison, Sarah Jolly, Gemma Layton, Richard Leeson, John Meredith, Roohi Munir, Nick Owen, Sheila Palmer, Patricia Preece, Roya Richards, Laura Rollins, Euan AJ Rose, Juliet Sharpe, Tracey Sheldon, Hayley Shorthouse, Salim Sidat, Bill Spriggs, Andy Weeks
Director: John Adams
Design: Janet Bird
Musical Director: Alan Warner
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Lighting: Adrian Barnes
2002-07-05 10:58:13