Exceptionally moving and committed |
At Hijinx Theatre |
Hijinx Theatre- A Long Way Home , Sherman Theatre Cardiff , October 1, 2007 |
A feisty old woman, dressed all in black is taking the long way home. On her travels through rough mountain passes she seems to be completing the whole of life’s journey. The journey we are all on and though we may not all be clothed in black from head to toe we will all share some of ‘Old Mother’s’ joys and sorrows as each one of us carves out our own path. Award winning playwright Charles Way’s story is a fascinating one and is totally captivating in the way it is told in this enthralling production. Alex Alderton is a fine and warm hearted performer, her work crosses many genres. She won a Theatre Wales best female actor award for her role as Alice Dell, a Judy Garland tribute performer and has also worked in experimental performance art. As the old mother she is the centre piece of this story, her crumpled figure moving around the stage through the mountains until she reaches the sea, commenting on and helping all who fall across her path. This is an exceptionally moving and committed performance. Louise Osborn’s direction allows the story to reveal itself to us in a most enchanting and highly watchable manner. It begins with a howl to the moon. The four members cast pitch an eerie series of notes in a strong chorus that fills the studio auditorium and brings us to the edge of our seats. They leave the stage and we see Dogboy wailing to the skies. Then in an extraordinary display of athletic movement actor John Norton, with his compelling blue eyes, expresses all the fear and frustrations of this curious and troubled and very scared young creature. He becomes the first chapter in Old Mother’s story, a young boy who is convinced he is a dog, a frightened and dangerous dog. He snaps and growls at the old lady but here her wisdom and humanity are revealed, she looks beyond the dog and sees the real boy, she wins his confidence and they journey on together. The other two members of the cast, Zoë Davies and Daren Stokes act as narrators linking each of the scenes and play the entire series of protagonists that Mother and boy have to face along their hazardous path. One of Stokes’ continuing roles is that of Old Mother’s dead husband. The actor brings an extraordinary amount of believability to part and although they never face one another on the stage Alderton and Stokes are able to give us a real feel of the life they lead together, from their lively youthfulness to comfortable old age. He is equally animated as a mountain bandit, apple grower and wooden post maker. Ingénue Davies has a dazzling and seductive smile but is also able to give a hard edge to her bandit’s Moll. They both make a strong contribution to the evening but need to bring the same degree of dynamic vitality to the narrating roles as they do to all the other characters they play. This is a remarkable broad look at life. The production gives us so much from its small, picturesque and very portable set. Portable because it has to be reasonably easy for the cast to pack away in a van to enable Hijinx Theatre to continue its mission to take theatre to places that other companies don’t go. As well as the Sherman the play will visit The Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the studio at the Wales Millennium Centre, it will also be seen at places like the Soar Centre, Penygraig, a Primary school in Gateshead, Martinstown Village Hall in Dorset and the Little Theatre in Neath. There was a short period in the company’s life when its determination to ensure a feel-good factor in its audience was in danger of softening in the work. With this and more recent productions the audience challenge has returned without in any way diminishing the enjoyment. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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