ONLINE
I’m currently investigating some of the online material available as part of Ukraine Fringe: Festival For The Brave on the theatre website Scenesaver; meanwhile live events are taking place in Kyiv. The UK is well represented in the selection on offer so here are a couple of pieces which show diverse approaches to telling an individual’s story.
Earlier this year I reviewed and was impressed by the quality of Dan Horrigan’s The Separation. Now here’s another piece in similarly accomplished vein in the form of Read To Me. Rolan is in Strangeways attending a group sharing activity. He is functionally illiterate due to dyslexia though verbally erudite in the extreme. His lack of ability to decipher the written word, however, doesn’t particularly bother him as he has a different sort of reading ability. He is adept at interpreting the tarot pack – at least that’s what he tells anyone who will listen. This includes a young woman for whom he quickly falls and then uses dubious means and criminal activity in order to free her and her three year old child from the unwanted attentions of an ex. This self-sacrifice, he claims, demonstrates that what he experiences is real love, but is he merely misleading himself this time?
The pacing of the film (and really it is more obviously that than a theatre piece) is measured and carefully thought through with evident expertise on display from Horrigan’s film team Fraser Watson (cinematography), Guy K Ward (editing) and Mitch Snell (sound). The central role is taken by Christopher Sherwood with an intensity that holds the attention and a fully rounded characterisation which, despite the brevity of the piece, lingers in the memory. Though there are no big dramatic moments the air of brooding tension throughout keeps Sherwood’s characterisation believable and the premise behind this piece intriguing.
Also existing within the realms of criminal activity is the protagonist of Punched from Fetch Theatre. He is, or rather was, a Professor which in this instance is not an educator but is the proper styling for a Punch and Judy man. He suddenly finds himself and his show cancelled by the forces of social progress but what he sees simply as political correctness (gone mad). He has nothing to fall back on and increasingly his life falls apart as it starts to increasingly resemble that of his glove puppet hero. He trades the laughter of children on the beach for domestic violence perpetrated against his wife and child. Alcohol and drugs (rather than Mr P’s sausages) lead him further into the realms of degradation and finally the law catches up with him – even if he does put the boot in there too. In a chilling reminder that in the original story Mr Punch faces the gallows, the puppeteer looks at taking his own life – but even here he is thwarted.
John Knowles’ clever script points up the parallels by combining the modern with the archaic and he utilises extracts from an early 19th century script sometimes to suggest that little has changed for some sections of society. Instead of being condemned to hell for his crimes, the modern day Mr Punch has to expiate his sins by being at the bottom of the pile in this modern world. Gavin O’Neill gives a full on lairy performance as the victim of circumstance and his own choices. It’s another fully realised characterisation even if it was a bit disappointing that the swozzle voice isn’t used. This would have given events an even more manic edge; sadly too, no crocodile. However, generally speaking it’s a case of that’s the way to do it!
I do hope you will be able to spare some time to catch up on the diverse range of offerings featured in this online festival. While there is no charge for doing so, any donations will of course be welcome. I’ll be back with more shortly.
Read To Me and Punched are playing as part of Ukraine Fringe’s online programme and available via Scenesaver; click here
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2nd from Bottom 