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The Time Machine Malvern Theatres ***** This unusual but dynamic adaptation of The Time Machine, the 1895 novel by H.G Wells, has the audience guessing right from before the show starts. Why are there no pre-show announcements? Why does the show not start on time? This is followed inside the auditorium by several minutes of music related to the time theme with the audience staring at the backdrop of a giant clock and wondering what the delay is. The cast apologise for the lateness of the show and from this point the audience realise they need to suspend belief and expect the unexpected. The story, created by Steven Canny, John Nicholson and Mark Shanahan takes us on a dizzy journey led by Dave Wells (Dave Hearn), H.G Wells’s great great grandson who is determined to tell his great great grandfather’s story. With the support of fellow actors Amy Revelle and Michael Dylan we are taken on a remarkable journey which dips in and out of reality under the skillful direction of Orla O’Loughlin. In the original story scientist Alexander Hartdegen’s intention to prove his theory of time travel turns into an obsession when he decides to go back in time to save his girlfriend from dying. The action in this performance begins with all three characters in period costume (apart from their trainers). But this then swiftly departs from Wells’s original story. The use of paradoxes and the movement forwards and backwards in time takes the audience on a rollercoaster of engagement and involvement which sometimes leaves them completely baffled and possibly at times a little unnerved. Finally the interaction with the audience culminates in three audience members actually taking roles on stage, while Michael has a “date” with an audience member and pizzas and wine are delivered. The three extremely talented cast entertained us with striking song and dance routines (particularly featuring Cher, brilliantly sung by Amy). The action throughout was illuminated by striking sound and lighting effects. This show is definitely not to be missed. Brought to us by the team behind The Hound of the Baskervilles, and award-winning Original Theatre who brought us Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d and Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art, the show's time at Malvern ends 01-04-23. Jane Lush 28-03-23 |
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