Personals
This little-known musical made a perfect debut for new Oxfordshire theatre company MapleGiant Theatre. Personals, a musical depicting the trials and tribulations of finding a partner through the personal ads, was indeed made personal by the intimate staging and minimalist set, allowing the audience a real empathy with the struggles and successes of the characters. The musical from the creators of Friends has a small cast of just 6 characters; however each character was brought to life by a cast of talented actors. The humour in the script was intensified by witty facial expressions, clever props and suggestive gestures which left the audience crying with laughter. In contrast to this were emotionally acute glimpses of the heartache involved in dating, climaxing in Amy Cooke-Hodgson's rendition of ‘Michael’. Overall this was a mature and well thought through performance, unexpected coming from such a new company. We can expect great things from them.
JK, 16/03/06
The Headington Studio Theatre [Oxford Brookes University] was the perfect home for 90s fringe musical Personals [from the creators of Friends]. It marked the debut production for Maple Giant Theatre, Oxford’s newest offering in creative theatre companies pulling together talent from across the Universities. A talented and versatile cast of six were accompanied by an equally skilled band of 3 with Steve Wiggins [MD & Producer] at the helm on piano. The show comprises a series of linked and themed sketches and songs all centred on finding the perfect partner. Outrageous and absurd scenes were skilfully juxtaposed with melancholic reality peaking with the emotionally powerful performance of ‘Michael’ by Director and actor, Amy Cooke-Hodgson. Also very entertaining were the intermittent monologues of Ashley Harvey and the comic facial expressions of Ben Judson as Louis. A whirlwind of internet dating, personal ads, blind dates and blow up dolls leaves the audience empathising with the characters who by the end of the second act have exhausted all possible avenues and are left wondering whether ‘some things ever end’. A professional and slick interpretation of the script, Maple Giant’s production appears to have been a winner. Shame only that it ran for five shows though there are rumours of a slot at the Edinburgh Fringe. Keep yours eyes peeled this company is definitely one to watch.
lf, 25/02/06
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