Arts Page: Review of recent performances.
21 December 2007
Update on Oliver added below.
The picture on the left is from Oliver Twist, the current Dickens smash hit running on BBC1. And what a production it is, with a cast to die for. It comes at us in half hourly slots every night and as an enthusiastic fan of Charles Dickens, I have to say I am enjoying every minute of it. The BBC did something similar last year with another of the legendary novels. Interesting casting of Nancy this time around, the female 'companion' to the notorious Bill Sykes. That's Nancy on the left, and as far as I am aware it is the first time a black actress has appeared as Nancy, so new ground was broken there. Whether such a race situation would have, or could have, actually occurred at the time the book is set, is open to speculation. The actress will be familiar to many of you, as she is a TV regular, and usually seen in roles that require an element of misery. Yes it's Sophie Okonedo. Catch the Dickens classic before its too late.
Update:Well it's all come to a grisly but entertaining end. Poor Nancy above met a horrible fate at the hands of dastardly low level dictator Bill Sykes. Her crime against the evil Bill was simply that she tried to save little Olver Twist and restore him to his family. Bill and his slimey slithery salivating cohort Fagin, had plans to make money by holding Oliver, but Nancy kindly sought the best for him and her brutal murder sent Fagin's nest of thieves into disarray and dispersal. A troubled and disintegrating Sykes went on the run, and when all was lost hanged himself in miserable conditions. Fagin likewise also had a rather terminal and personal encounter with the noose, when, following a trial of sorts, he swung in the wind from the hangmans jibbet at Newgate prison, all to the wild amusement of a cheering rabble.
Another interesting race or religious aspect was broached during the trial of Fagin, when the judge indicated that he would spare his miserable hide if he renounced being a clearly widely despised Jew, and took up the much more sensible Christianity. Embrace Christ now and I will spare you, was the notion. Fagin to his credit hung on to his Jewish faith, and met his maker rather more swiftly than he might have done. Even in those days the Jews were on a raw deal, a hiding to nothing, a situation that perpetuated until the culmination under the Nazis. PaulB.
Wow! What a great Christmas week for Plays and Musicals in Dover, The Visit at Dover Grammar School for Girls, Scrooge - The Musical by Blackfish Academy, West Side Story by Astor College for the Arts, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dover Youth Theatre. Anne Franks Diary by the Duke of York's Military School and many more.
The Visit - a Tragi-Comedy written by Friedrich Durrenmatt - DGGS
Dover Grammar School for Girl's put on an excellent play recently entitled 'The Visit' by Friedrich Durrenmatt set in the once prosperous town of Guellen in 20th century europe which has now fallen on hard times. The homecoming return of Claire Zachanassian, an elderly eccentric Millionairess, who left the town some sixty years earlier with not a penny in her pocket. It is not quite as straightforward as it seems with her old flame ill who is now the town's General Shopkeeper being the centre of attention with a long hidden secret uncovered to his cost . Strong undercurrents of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill with excellent performances by Eleanor Wright as Claire, Catherine Watts as ill and Saskia Wadsworth-Smith as the Schoolteacher who also has a very funny cameo drunken scene (that's her swigging from bottle in pic on left).
Scrooge - The Musical by Leslie Briceuse - Blackfish Academy.
The cast with Bob Markham and Jan Tranter.
What can I say, this was one of the most enjoyable musical adaptions that I have seen locally, Hain McSheonin's Scrooge had me totally captivated, very professional and funny, and Tiny Tim had me wiping away a tear, I'm glad that I brought along an extra packet of tissues. The costumes were wonderful and taking into account the size of the stage you felt as though you were part of the company, not just a spectator. I was enthralled throughout, the dance routines, singing, the whole experience was very professionally directed, Well Done, Mike & Richard.
West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim - Astor College for the Arts
This musical which marked a turning point in American musical theatre celebrated it's 50th anniversary this year, this adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet left us enthralled. The part of Maria was beautifully sung and acted throughout by one of our very own DCAL Senior Princesses, Jessica West, she played the part to perfection keeping in character with a great Puerto Rican accent and Wow!, What a voice!! All the principal characters and indeed the whole cast were a credit to their school.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - Dover Youth Theatre
The venue at Dover Grammar School for Boys was packed for the latest production by Marie Kelly-Thomas of Dover Youth Theatre. This fun filled show was oozing with talent and professionally acted by a cracking cast, they really enjoyed themselves giving a vibrant colourful start to the festive season. The show also had some foot-tapping routines by their junior and senior jazz dancers. Willy Wonka was perfectly played by Oliver Tatt ( in pic on left) who relished the part and was a joy to watch. Our very own Forumites Briony Boland was one of the Senior dancers with budding actress Saskia Wadsworth-Smith playing the part of Violet Beauregarde which was thrilling to watch. Well Done Dover Youth Theatre, another brilliant production.
Unfortunately we were unable to cover the Duke of York's Military School production of Anne Franks Diary, but we have it on good authority from none other than our very own Mayor Bob Markham that it was a great success, with his grandaughter Ellie Wall (see pic on left) playing the part of Anne to wondrous applause.
To conclude we have a very talented bunch of up and coming stars of stage and screen amongst the youth of Dover, Watch Out World!
Update on Oliver added below.
The picture on the left is from Oliver Twist, the current Dickens smash hit running on BBC1. And what a production it is, with a cast to die for. It comes at us in half hourly slots every night and as an enthusiastic fan of Charles Dickens, I have to say I am enjoying every minute of it. The BBC did something similar last year with another of the legendary novels. Interesting casting of Nancy this time around, the female 'companion' to the notorious Bill Sykes. That's Nancy on the left, and as far as I am aware it is the first time a black actress has appeared as Nancy, so new ground was broken there. Whether such a race situation would have, or could have, actually occurred at the time the book is set, is open to speculation. The actress will be familiar to many of you, as she is a TV regular, and usually seen in roles that require an element of misery. Yes it's Sophie Okonedo. Catch the Dickens classic before its too late.
Update:Well it's all come to a grisly but entertaining end. Poor Nancy above met a horrible fate at the hands of dastardly low level dictator Bill Sykes. Her crime against the evil Bill was simply that she tried to save little Olver Twist and restore him to his family. Bill and his slimey slithery salivating cohort Fagin, had plans to make money by holding Oliver, but Nancy kindly sought the best for him and her brutal murder sent Fagin's nest of thieves into disarray and dispersal. A troubled and disintegrating Sykes went on the run, and when all was lost hanged himself in miserable conditions. Fagin likewise also had a rather terminal and personal encounter with the noose, when, following a trial of sorts, he swung in the wind from the hangmans jibbet at Newgate prison, all to the wild amusement of a cheering rabble.
Another interesting race or religious aspect was broached during the trial of Fagin, when the judge indicated that he would spare his miserable hide if he renounced being a clearly widely despised Jew, and took up the much more sensible Christianity. Embrace Christ now and I will spare you, was the notion. Fagin to his credit hung on to his Jewish faith, and met his maker rather more swiftly than he might have done. Even in those days the Jews were on a raw deal, a hiding to nothing, a situation that perpetuated until the culmination under the Nazis. PaulB.
Local Christmas Productions visited by Colette Boland.
Wow! What a great Christmas week for Plays and Musicals in Dover, The Visit at Dover Grammar School for Girls, Scrooge - The Musical by Blackfish Academy, West Side Story by Astor College for the Arts, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dover Youth Theatre. Anne Franks Diary by the Duke of York's Military School and many more.
The Visit - a Tragi-Comedy written by Friedrich Durrenmatt - DGGS
Dover Grammar School for Girl's put on an excellent play recently entitled 'The Visit' by Friedrich Durrenmatt set in the once prosperous town of Guellen in 20th century europe which has now fallen on hard times. The homecoming return of Claire Zachanassian, an elderly eccentric Millionairess, who left the town some sixty years earlier with not a penny in her pocket. It is not quite as straightforward as it seems with her old flame ill who is now the town's General Shopkeeper being the centre of attention with a long hidden secret uncovered to his cost . Strong undercurrents of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill with excellent performances by Eleanor Wright as Claire, Catherine Watts as ill and Saskia Wadsworth-Smith as the Schoolteacher who also has a very funny cameo drunken scene (that's her swigging from bottle in pic on left).
Scrooge - The Musical by Leslie Briceuse - Blackfish Academy.
What can I say, this was one of the most enjoyable musical adaptions that I have seen locally, Hain McSheonin's Scrooge had me totally captivated, very professional and funny, and Tiny Tim had me wiping away a tear, I'm glad that I brought along an extra packet of tissues. The costumes were wonderful and taking into account the size of the stage you felt as though you were part of the company, not just a spectator. I was enthralled throughout, the dance routines, singing, the whole experience was very professionally directed, Well Done, Mike & Richard.
West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim - Astor College for the Arts
This musical which marked a turning point in American musical theatre celebrated it's 50th anniversary this year, this adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet left us enthralled. The part of Maria was beautifully sung and acted throughout by one of our very own DCAL Senior Princesses, Jessica West, she played the part to perfection keeping in character with a great Puerto Rican accent and Wow!, What a voice!! All the principal characters and indeed the whole cast were a credit to their school.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - Dover Youth Theatre
The venue at Dover Grammar School for Boys was packed for the latest production by Marie Kelly-Thomas of Dover Youth Theatre. This fun filled show was oozing with talent and professionally acted by a cracking cast, they really enjoyed themselves giving a vibrant colourful start to the festive season. The show also had some foot-tapping routines by their junior and senior jazz dancers. Willy Wonka was perfectly played by Oliver Tatt ( in pic on left) who relished the part and was a joy to watch. Our very own Forumites Briony Boland was one of the Senior dancers with budding actress Saskia Wadsworth-Smith playing the part of Violet Beauregarde which was thrilling to watch. Well Done Dover Youth Theatre, another brilliant production.Unfortunately we were unable to cover the Duke of York's Military School production of Anne Franks Diary, but we have it on good authority from none other than our very own Mayor Bob Markham that it was a great success, with his grandaughter Ellie Wall (see pic on left) playing the part of Anne to wondrous applause.
To conclude we have a very talented bunch of up and coming stars of stage and screen amongst the youth of Dover, Watch Out World!
- I missed some episodes of the current adaptation of Oliver Twist but I saw last night's and was captivated by Sophie Okonedo's Nancy, a cracking cast!
- Wow! that's an interesting list of plays and musicals covering different fields of the thespian art, it's like reading 'What's On' tv guide. Also when you take into account all the Nativity plays that the Infant and Junior's have put on this season, they deserve all the praise they can get. Well Done to all!!!
- So as you can see we have a lot of talent we should be surporting so keep your eyes open alot planned for 2008 I hear.
- It's good to see that the youth of Dover are having a great time at the start of the festive season, Well Done to all, I know that they have all been rehearsing like mad as Briony and Saskia were studying their lines and dance routines constantly over the past 2 months.