Last night we enjoyed two one act plays.
Escaped Alone by Caryl Churchill performed by Rushen Players.
Terrible rage, terrible rage, terrible rage, terrible rage! These four ladies had a few problems didn’t they!
We opened to a pleasant garden scene with 4 chairs and three ladies entering, plus a tea service on the table. Pleasant ladies’ chat we thought. Mrs. Jeffries enters stage left, obviously not invited but sort of welcomed. The ‘chat’ evolved into some disturbing stuff and these 3 ladies certainly had problems. Psychological issues, was it murder or self defence and a cat psychosis? Would you want these guys as neighbours? Then there was Mrs. Jeffries with her apocalyptic view of a catastrophic world. Where will it end? Well certainly without any drop of tea!
Typical Caryl Churchill, Chris Baglin explained, you’re not supposed to ‘understand’ the script,
make of it what you will.
A great piece of theatre to open our Festival, thank you Rushen Players.
Victoria Station by Harold Pinter performed by Parodos Theatre Company.
How about Mr. Pinter’s friendly, customer service focussed cab company? What a spooky pair they were. I felt sorry for the poor guy left at Victoria Station. Did he ever get to see his grandmother? He should have booked an Uber.
Great characterisation of the Controller and Driver. You could feel the Controller’s frustration building and building. The spaced out attitude of the Driver was comic in the beginning, but what really happens to the POB female asleep on the back seat? Is it love or something sinister, we will never know. And that’s exactly what Mr. Pinter planned. It’s all in YOUR mind.
A gripping presentation and food for thought,
well done Parodos Theatre.
– Ron Beswick
See you all tonight for White Cobra’s Lilies on the Land by Lion’s Part.
Lilies of the Land is an extraordinary piece of theatre telling the story of Britain’s Women’s Land Army of World War Two. Based on hundreds of actual letters from original Land Girls, the play focuses on four very different women who all come together during Britain’s darkest hour determined to ‘do their bit’ for King and Country.