Although this play is an unusual choice for a new theatre company called BreakaLeg Productions, it enables the cast to showcase their impressive talents.
This tragi-comedy, written by Ronald Harwood, and apparently based on some of his own stage experiences as a member of Sir Donald Wolfit’s company, is set in 1942 in a northern theatre. The audience are cleverly brought into the scene and era by the playing of wartime-associated music and use of a projector playing black and white war film scenes showing Churchill and Hitler. The entrance to the Unicorn Theatre has been decorated with World War II memorabilia such as newspapers, pilot records and even an ARP box.
The actors are largely playing the backstage crew and cast of a touring company putting on a production of King Lear. The two main characters are John Crowley, known to the touring company as “Sir”, who is supposed to play the part of King Lear, and Paul Martin, who plays Norman, his wonderfully camp dresser. Both put in strong performances.
In the first act, a crisis looms, as "Sir" appears to be having a mental breakdown and the performance is in danger of last minute cancellation. At Norman’s insistence, the show goes on. He seems to be the one person that can manage to get the lead character, who is unable to remember even his first lines, on stage, by various persuasive techniques.
The second Act is lively, particularly the storm scene from King Lear, with the drama being heightened by an air raid. The part of Cordelia is ably played by Janet Rollett, "Sir"’s long suffering partner (known to the touring company as “Her Ladyship”). Madge, the stage manager, who has been with the company longest and is clearly fond of “Sir”, is played by Julie Kedward.
The play is multi-layered, as each character plays out their out their own frustrations and disappointed hopes against the background of Shakespeare’s tragedy and the real life drama of the war. Deidre Jones has done well in directing this unusual and challenging play, which certainly merits a visit to the Unicorn Theatre.
This tragi-comedy, written by Ronald Harwood, and apparently based on some of his own stage experiences as a member of Sir Donald Wolfit’s company, is set in 1942 in a northern theatre. The audience are cleverly brought into the scene and era by the playing of wartime-associated music and use of a projector playing black and white war film scenes showing Churchill and Hitler. The entrance to the Unicorn Theatre has been decorated with World War II memorabilia such as newspapers, pilot records and even an ARP box.
The actors are largely playing the backstage crew and cast of a touring company putting on a production of King Lear. The two main characters are John Crowley, known to the touring company as “Sir”, who is supposed to play the part of King Lear, and Paul Martin, who plays Norman, his wonderfully camp dresser. Both put in strong performances.
In the first act, a crisis looms, as "Sir" appears to be having a mental breakdown and the performance is in danger of last minute cancellation. At Norman’s insistence, the show goes on. He seems to be the one person that can manage to get the lead character, who is unable to remember even his first lines, on stage, by various persuasive techniques.
The second Act is lively, particularly the storm scene from King Lear, with the drama being heightened by an air raid. The part of Cordelia is ably played by Janet Rollett, "Sir"’s long suffering partner (known to the touring company as “Her Ladyship”). Madge, the stage manager, who has been with the company longest and is clearly fond of “Sir”, is played by Julie Kedward.
The play is multi-layered, as each character plays out their out their own frustrations and disappointed hopes against the background of Shakespeare’s tragedy and the real life drama of the war. Deidre Jones has done well in directing this unusual and challenging play, which certainly merits a visit to the Unicorn Theatre.