MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, 7 February 2010

The circus. What does that conjure up in your mind? Animals doing tricks; clowns throwing buckets of water; jugglers; acrobats. The Moscow State Circus, a modern day circus, has no animals but the most versatile circus performers. For two hours we sat enthralled and amazed as we watched the incredible, innovative performers.

Wrapped around the stories and legends of Rasputin and his dreamworld Legenda, the acts pushed the boundaries of physical ingenuity to their limits. We saw gymnastics worthy of the Olympics; jugglers weaving patterns with 15 skittles in one go; acrobats who could balance on each other in a myriad of ways; trapeze artistes who wrapped silk ropes around their bodies plunging to the ground from great heights; an archer who shot arrows simultaneously to burst balloons and hit targets. Throughout, the clowns brought continuity and laughter as they displayed their skills of balance on a wire and a ladder.

The climax of the whole show was the illusionist who was brilliantly supported by his assistant who could change costume in the blink of an eye. The finale was amazing as she was levitated and then disappeared into thin air only to return from the back of the auditorium leaving us all gasping.

We would thoroughly recommend a visit to the Moscow State Circus. It is suitable for the whole family and is a sensational show that combines contemporary and classical circus at their very best.

Ann and Nick Parham

February 2010

THE THEATRE GROUP

The minibus for our trip to see the Moscow State Circus in Swindon will leave the Village Hall at 3.30 pm on Sunday 7 February.

The minibus for "Antony and Cleopatra" at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford in June is also fully booked.  I’m happy to add to a list of reserves if anybody is interested, and we’re still very open to suggestions for later in the year, about October time.

If you would like to be added to - or even removed from - our mailing list, please let me know.

Malcolm Wright (850705)

I’m very pleased to announce that all tickets are sold for the trip to the Moscow State Circus in Swindon on 7 February, and all places for the outing to Stratford in June to see "Antony and Cleopatra" have been provisionally booked.  Given that this is so far ahead, I’m happy to put anyone who is still interested on the reserve list.  And given that I have paid for the tickets, indeed they have already arrived, I would be grateful to have the money (£37.50 a head including the minibus) at least as soon as the January sales are over.

Any ideas for October?    Opera or musical?

Malcolm Wright (850705)

Our last trip was, as you may recollect from Austin’s amusing account, was very enjoyable, but it was our smallest group ever, and we did wonder whether the Group had outlived its usefulness.

We soldiered on optimistically, however, and it is good to announce that there has been considerable interest in our next two ventures. I’d like to have sold the last two tickets for

MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon on Sunday 7 February 2010 at 5pm

before I have to pay for them on 6 December. Minibus transport is included for £24.20 a head. Please rush!

And don’t waste time - although it’s a long way ahead - to book for

ANTONY and CLEOPATRA

Courtyard Theatre, Stratford on Monday 21 June 2010 at 7.15 pm.

We are thinking of going early enough to have a picnic again, but this can be agreed later. Meanwhile I’m anxious to be reassured that I should buy the tickets. The minibus is also reserved, and the total cost is £37.50 per person.

Do get in touch if you are interested in either or both of the shows - you don’t have to be on the mailing list to come. If you would like advance information, though, please tell me.

Malcolm Wright (850705)

The Mill at Sonning, 20 October 2209.

“I’ll hold your programme while you’re driving!” She walked off with it - GGGrrrrrrr.  With my notes - double GGGrrrrrrr.

What exactly is a review ? Having said I will do a “review” I am not at all sure what that means. My opinion is what you are getting.

It was great, and I enjoyed it….. OK, then, a bit more. 

It was a modern day musical, with the feel good factor built in; about a modern day family trying to get rid of the old guy. Pushy wife of son, and accommodating daughter married to a “jack the lad”. There is a birthday (about a year after a bereavement) - and the first act sets the scene for what is to follow incredibly well.  There are 5 songs in act 1, and I think 9 in act 2 (no programme!!). The songs move the action along at a goodly pace; that doesn’t mean you ‘lose the plot’ as the theme is threaded throughout - mainly through the songs. Children wanting to oust parent - parent doesn’t want to let go - goes to dance club with friend - cannot dance - friend shows how - is seen by siblings - think Dad is gay  - all comes out afterwards - Dad seeing woman a year after bereavement - now that’s not permitted either. The comedy is in the spiralling confusion; and is actually everywhere - from the mild farce, to the mild pathos, to the mild bullying of “son” by pushy “wife”. Obviously it all comes good in the end.

The characters are all perfectly cast. The daughter with the ‘jack the lad’ husband, trying to pretend it is natural for the husband to be off on ‘business’ every night. Mind you, she tells him to call when he’s on his way home, which also gives her the opportunity to get rid of anyone she is entertaining. Does that sound cynical? The ‘pushy’ wife wants son to improve; and be dynamic, father finding a direction for his life in his ‘September’ years.

The theatre is well laid out, and the acoustics are excellent. The cast all had very personable voices, clear and musically acceptable to my tone deaf ear. The seats are OK for the 90 minutes you are in them. One BIG drawback - NO ICE CREAM IN THE INTERVAL. Coffee, drinks or tea, yes But this heinous lack of consideration for ice cream lovers is intolerable.

In conclusion - I enjoyed it enormously; it was witty, amusing and fast enough to keep you enthralled throughout. It was great.

Austin Maytham

October 2009

Upton Village Theatre Group

We have 59 people on our mailing list - and are happy to have more if you are interested - but only a select few are going to the Mill at Sonning in October to see a new musical, "That Old Feeling".  It is,  indeed, the smallest group we’ve had since we began, so I hope this is not  the beginning of an end.

We would expect to run another outing some time in February, and as always the Committee would be pleased to have suggestions.

Malcolm Wright   (850705)

THEATRE GROUP

The Committee has not been able to agree on a further outing - and the choice seems to have been pretty limited, too.  Am I right in thinking that we’d rather be entertained than challenged?

I’ll keep looking, though, and will welcome ideas to put to the Committee.

Malcolm Wright

Oxford Playhouse Wednesday 18th March 2009

Earlier this month the Upton Playgoers went to the Oxford Playhouse to see ‘Life with Beth’ by Alan Ayckbourn. All of it was by A Ayckbourn. Script, direction, casting. We know, because the cast told us so. (It was Meet the Cast evening.) The acting was first class, and the setting was good old-fashioned proscenium arch and a set easily recognisable as a retired couples lounge/dining room.

The theme of the play, centred on Beth, who was mourning her recently deceased husband. Or was she? Her close family – and the Vicar – were determined that she was to be Consoled. But she did not need consolation. Beth conveyed in the subtlety of her stillness, that she had felt a weight falling from her shoulders. But her secret relief was not to be …

Not rib achingly funny, there were plenty of laughs in the first act. Ayckbourn has a way of peppering his stories with laughter to leven a more serious undercurrent. The emanation of Beth’s dear departed through closed doors, put a dampener on her future prospects!

We all enjoyed an evening with the best of contemporary writing and acting. Thank you Malcolm for once again choosing the production, and organising us to get there and back. J. J.

The trip to "Life and Beth" at the Oxford Playhouse went ahead as planned, and is recorded elsewhere.

Our next outing is to the Watermill to see Noel Coward’s "Blithe Spirit" on 11 June.  It was evidently a popular choice; there was an immediate flurry of cash and cheques after the announcement and only one ticket remains at the time of writing!

We’ll soon think of something for late September or thereabouts.  If an idea occurs to you do let me know.

Malcolm Wright 850705

THE MAGIC FLUTE

Milton Keynes Theatre, 18 November 2008

Malcolm marshalled us outside the Village Hall at 1700 hours, from whence we made a rapid and comfortable journey to Milton Keynes in the minibus. We arrived there to enjoy a performance of Mozart’s "Die Zauberflöte" given by the Glyndebourne Touring Opera Company at the town’s impressive theatre.

"The Magic Flute" presents difficulties to describe and impossibilities to stage. The "story" ranges through circus, passionate love, comedy, drama and a serious attempt to address Mozart’s belief in Masonic Mysteries. For me, Schikaneder’s German text was totally incomprehensible. Fortunately, we were given a modern English translation in surtitles. This provided some aid to understanding the extraordinary events taking place on the stage beneath,

Overall the singing was good, in some places particularly so. It was accompanied throughout by fine orchestral playing. Just a few examples must suffice. The company is blessed with a sonorous male chorus and an outstanding lyric tenor in Lothar Odinius as Tamino. His muse Pamina (Ana James) also gave a splendid performance as singer and actress. The only wholly dramatic items in the piece are taken by the Queen of the Night. These famously challenging arias were handled by Mari Moriya who negotiated them with outstanding accuracy, a spectacular coloratura top and a strong mid-range soprano. The second act aria in particular drew from the house enthusiastic acclaim.

In conclusion, the company gave us a beautifully staged and costumed addition to their delightful account of Mozart’s wonderful score. We returned home warmed within.

Harry Prior

November 2008