home | accolade | articles | acting | festivals | guestbook | groups | greenroom | links | news | plays 1 productions | photos | quotes | reviews |
 |
 |
Castle Players Village Hall Lytchett Matravers May 2003 Much of its impact comes from the shocking facts and figures continually flashed onto a screen at the back of the stage. The Players excelled themselves with a screen that not only showed some incredible slides – including some of Bournemouth’s own Pierrots in August 1914, the time the show’s action begins – but that actually looked as though it belonged in such a period. Unfortunately it took up so much space that on-stage movement was, of necessity, rather restricted. Perhaps that was why so much use was made of the entire hall, which in some ways lessened the impact of unfolding events as it was not really practical for the audience at the front to keep looking behind them. Nonetheless, those slides, plus excellent sound effects, created an all-too realistic scenario that was enhanced by the sincere performances of the 24-strong company, directed by Denise Mallender. Both the production’s humour and pathos were strongly brought out, and the frequent half pierrot/half army costumes worked particularly well in reminding the audience of the type of show they were watching. Linda Kirkman Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. |
