Theatre Group
We now have just 2 seats remaining for the trip to "Hairspray" at the New Theatre, Oxford on 12.October. Are you interested?
We are beginning to think about next year, so if you have requests or information do let me know.
Malcolm Wright 850705
ANTONY and CLEOPATRA
The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford, 21 June 2010
Perhaps it was just as well we went on the longest day because the performance ran for three hours and twenty minutes, even with a few cuts. But tedious it wasn’t for a moment!
The last time I saw the play at Stratford, Antony was drunk - literally - and Cleopatra spent her time in what looked like a shapeless dressing gown. So I was worried that the group were going to be subjected again to a director’s weird ideas or an actor’s incapacity. Wrong on both counts. Granted there was modern dress, but the business suits and Air Force uniforms of the Romans acceptably contrasted with the colourful, often outrageous, fashions and khaki camouflage battledress of the Egyptians. The set was simple so that the action was almost breathlessly continuous, and often excitingly choreographed.
While the ensemble’s portrayal of the characters was always good and sometimes brilliant. Kathryn Hunter’s Cleopatra was tiny, wrinkled, skeletal, and she limped, but the passion and charisma and temper and theatricality were all there, and she rose effortlessly to the tragic regality of her end. Darrell D’Silva’s Antony was also well past his prime, but it was easy to see how he engendered such loyalty, how he had once been a consummate general, and he matched the fire and fury of his great love. Octavius is always a clear contrast to Antony but John Mackay gave him a new dimension. He was an eminently calculating politician who became more and more objectionable as his power grew, though he was allowed displays of anger and a deep affection for his sister.
It was a pity that some jobsworth official would not allow us to board the minibus near the Stage Door and kept the group waiting while the driver toured Stratford’s one-way system to get the bus back outside the theatre after practically all the audience had departed Still, all the other memories are exciting and colourful and entirely pleasurable.
Malcolm Wright
June 2010
Moments after I sent the copy for last month’s News, the situation changed, and three seats for the Stratford trip to see "Antony and Cleopatra" became available. Two have been taken up by reserves, but we are still looking for one person to join us on Monday 21 June.. The cost of £37.50 includes transport. I’ll let all participants know the time of departure - shall we take a picnic again? - later in the month.
We haven’t filled the minibus for "Hairspray" yet. That’s at the New Theatre, Oxford on Tuesday 12 October and the all-in cost is £40.25. I’m beginning to worry that we shouldn’t book for musicals - our last near-disaster was a Sonning musical show.
Another thought. How many Uptonians would fancy a trip to the Blewbury open-air theatre in July? This year’s show is Goldoni’s farce, " A Servant of Two Masters". Geoff, of course, won’t be in it this year (nor am I) but I’m sure it will be very entertaining.
Malcolm Wright 850705
Our trip to Stratford in June is fully booked - has, indeed, 3 on the reserve list!
But next, encouraged by the Committee, I dared to purchase a minibusworth of tickets for the musical "Hairspray" at the New Theatre, Oxford, on Tuesday 12 October at 7.30 pm.
This is the actual West End production, as far as I can judge, so for £40.25 you get a circle seat, and transport, to see a show which could have cost £60 for the ticket alone, not to count the fare to London.
Those who have seen the show recommend it and it has had very encouraging reviews. Do rush to get the remaining seats!
Malcolm Wright 850705
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)
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)
