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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Nothing saintly about George
Dying to meet you: Jen Eglinton as Madam Xenia, Pam Meredith (standing) as Mrs Mercy, Rachel Lawrence (crouching) as Childie and Sue Downing as George The
Killing Of Sister George The
Nonentities The Rose
Theatre, Kidderminster **** What a perfect space the intimate Rose
theatre's studio is for The Nonentities' production of this wonderfully
comic yet dark play directed by Tori Wakeman. Sister
George played excellently by Sue Downing (fabulous wig) is the most
popular character in an Archers-style radio series called Applehurst,
where she plays the village nurse. Her real name is June
Buckridge, yet most of her friends refer to her as George – the beloved
character she plays, although her real life persona could not be more
different. As you enter the studio you
walk directly into June's flat, full of gin bottles, cigars, radio
awards for excellence and some creepy porcelain dolls that belong to her
lodger Alice “Childie” McNaught played by Rachel Lawrence. In truth June is an ex-army,
no nonsense, gin guzzler who has a slightly sadistic attitude to her
lodger “Childie” – it is implied throughout that June is a lesbian and
quite possible in some sort of relationship with Childie although this
is never confirmed in the dialogue. She does however have a very
strong, domineering hold of her which although played comically gives
you a little shiver of pity for “Childie”. Rachel Lawrence's portrayal
of “Childie” - an adult who really still behaves and acts as a child is
a really good performance – you almost want to get up and take her away
from the life she is living. When Mrs Mercy Croft (Pam
Merdith) arrives from the BBC June is thrown into turmoil, is this once
popular character losing her following? Will she have the axe from her
beloved Applehurst? Well you'll just have to get to The Rose to find
out. Sue Downing as June is superb
in this masculine complex role, effortlessly switching from her stiff
upper lip accent as June to her farmer dialect of Sister George. While
the comedy in her portrayal of the character is hilarious you also get a
deep sympathy for her as really this is a very unhappy woman. Pam Meredith as Mercy was
exactly how I would picture a BBC executive in the 60's – sharp suites,
terribly proper (or is she) and matter of fact – a part played well by
Meredith. Jen Eglinton plays Madam Xenia
the eccentric, Middle Eastern, medium who lives downstairs and a friend
to June. The character doesn't appear all that often and isn't really
pivotal to plot, however she has some of the best comic lines of the
play. Eglinton executed them with perfect comic timing – a real joy to
watch. A really entertaining night
out – how theatre should be! Catch it before it finishes on Saturday. To
17-11-12. Two hours 30 mins – one 5 minute comfort interval and one 20
minute interval. Eva Easthope |
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