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THE IMPOSTERS

A review by Mary Couzens for EXTRA! EXTRA!

 

 


More London Free Festival

 

Free Theatre

The Trojan War & Peace


Steam Industry Free Theatre's new

The Trojan Horse, Agamemnon and Orestes

Steam Industry Free Theatre in The Trojan Horse at The Scoop, More London

Photo by John Couzens

 

Based on the Oresteia Trilogy of Aeschylus

 

Adapted and Directed by Phil Wilmott

Set and Costume Design – Charlie Cridlan

Musical Director and Co-Composer – The Trojan Horse – Alistair Craft

Sound Designer & Composer – Agamemnon and Orestes – Theo Holloway

Ally Holmes – Choreographer & Associate Director

 

The Scoop at More London

 

5 July – 5 August 2012

 

This epic Greek trilogy competed with the tempestuous weather on its Saturday press night and in the end, the storm clouds won, but not before the actors in these productions put up a worthy fight.

Charlie Cridlan’s set design is the first piece of these pies we get to admire and though it may initially seem sparse, it winds up being more than apt. In fact, you’re liable to admire its concise versatility. Costumes in the plays almost seem to morph with their characters, though they take a slightly more contemporary twist as the comely Helen is progressively replaced in the trilogy by her daughter, Electra.

There’s a perfect arc winding through these plays: promise, conflict, resolution, and along the way, we are variously entertained, abashed and projected, back into the downturned cycle of power mad Queen Clytememnestra, intensely and admirably played by Natalia Campbell, who vividly manifests the evil queen’s thirst for blood soaked revenge. And what about all the virile males in the story I hear you ask, like her husband, Agamemnon (Stephen Billington), hero of the Trojan War and title character of play two? In this trio of productions, in terms of shameless brutality, even he takes a back seat to the maneuverings of his Queen, but nonetheless, the King admittedly plays a pivotal role. Though, any hateful tendencies he and his men act on are effectively, glossed over in the context of entertaining opening, The Trojan Horse, with its amiable, family friendly, child participatory, song and dance routines. Musical Director/ Co-Composer Alistair Craft must be rightfully proud of his crowd pleasing songs.

Then there is Agamemnon’s steadfast, likeable brother, Menelaus (John Last), who inadvertently wins the heart of lovely Helen, charmingly played here by Latoya Lees. Though, Helen’s Slave, who intermittently professes he’s ‘not one to make a fuss’ very nearly steals the show in play one with his song and dance capabilities and winning way of leading the ensemble, at one point with top hat in hand. The lyrics are fun too, as they lampoon all things Greek, at least, from popular culture, with modern references thrown in, i.e. Paris as the ‘poor man’s Peter Andre,’ though Jordon Lee’s presence in his role of deluded clod is far from depleted. Similarly notable n his moments as Agamemnon’s friend Odysseus is Robert Welling, Ruth Pickett as Helen’s friend, Cassandra, James Horne as wheelchair bound, ‘Old Soldier’ and Maggie Daniels as the Royal Nurse. But that’s the beauty of these three productions, ably adapted and directed by Phil Wilmott – each member of the cast plays their role with focus, imbued with a sense of being there. So all involved openly enjoy part one and collectively embody the two ensuing dramas. There’s an easy flow among the cast which marks their directing as very able indeed.

As a result, it’s neigh on impossible not to get caught up and ultimately, swept away in the plays, eventually, hanging on every word, until, seemingly, on press night, Zeus chose to end it all via a cloudburst of nearly epic proportions at the opening of Orestes. Come Thursday night, I’ll be back to witness the play’s sure to be meaty conclusion.  

It seems like only yesterday that free theatre, music and films began at The Scoop, More London, yet it’s been ten years since their inception. Now that I’ve been lured there by invitation at long last, I’ll be going back, again and again….

 
 
Natalia Campbell as Queen Clytemnestra in Agamemnon at The Scoop, More London

Photo by John Couzens

 
Thursdays to Sundays
6:30 pm The Trojan Horse
8:00 pm – Agamemnon
9:30 pm – Orestes
 
Each play is 1 hour long, ½ hour interval between
The Scoop at More London
More London Riverside
London SE1 2DB

www.orestes.co.uk www.steamindustryfreetheatre.org.uk

http://www.morelondon.com/scoop.html

 

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