April 22, 2007
When Beresford opens a letter asking him to fill in the enclosed form (that is not enclosed) and return it to the Department of Justice, he sets of an unstoppable chain of events that leads, via his trial, conviction and imprisonment, to his execution for a crime, or crimes, unknown. And it’s hilarious. Drawing on influences from Kafka’s Trial to The Count of Monte Cristo via Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, and utilising a brilliantly conceived set of office furniture for everything from a library to a guillotine, this superb piece of Absurdist theatre from Gonzo Moose Productions drew laugh after laugh from a delighted, and very involved, audience.
With Mark Conway excellent in the role of Beresford, our tragic hero, the remainder of the parts were filled by the equally superb Clare Thomson (warder, judge, police officer, Miriam – Beresford’s love interest, fellow prisoner) and Angus Barr (warder, prosecuting barrister, police officer, executioner, a variety of prisoners). Energy, comic timing, and sheer glee were evident in abundance as our hero was wrapped up in red tape, put on hold, arrested, interrogated, laughed out of court, incarcerated and, finally, met his end. Mark Conway convinced with his portrayal of a man who naively believed that the inherent fairness of the judicial system would eventually see him exonerated for the (unknown) crime which he knew he had not committed. Clare Thomson was wonderfully funny in all roles; the highlights being her glorious judge – and several ’beautiful’ witnesses (including a fabulous sheep) - and her loving Miriam. Angus Barr mixed effortless musical skill (banjo, keyboards and vocals) with highly energetic and skilfully created characters, most especially as a vituperative barrister who delighted in spitting all over my companion – she won’t comment on actors who spit quite so readily next time!
Congratulations are most certainly due to Mandy Dike and Ben Rigby for excellent set design and fabrication, to Tom Richmond for sympathetic and effective lighting, to Maija Nygren for an abundance of splendid costumes and to director Abigail Anderson for a superb production. It’s a shame that this was only at the Burton Taylor for one night, because if you weren’t there you missed a real treat. Well done to the BT for another splendid show.
With Mark Conway excellent in the role of Beresford, our tragic hero, the remainder of the parts were filled by the equally superb Clare Thomson (warder, judge, police officer, Miriam – Beresford’s love interest, fellow prisoner) and Angus Barr (warder, prosecuting barrister, police officer, executioner, a variety of prisoners). Energy, comic timing, and sheer glee were evident in abundance as our hero was wrapped up in red tape, put on hold, arrested, interrogated, laughed out of court, incarcerated and, finally, met his end. Mark Conway convinced with his portrayal of a man who naively believed that the inherent fairness of the judicial system would eventually see him exonerated for the (unknown) crime which he knew he had not committed. Clare Thomson was wonderfully funny in all roles; the highlights being her glorious judge – and several ’beautiful’ witnesses (including a fabulous sheep) - and her loving Miriam. Angus Barr mixed effortless musical skill (banjo, keyboards and vocals) with highly energetic and skilfully created characters, most especially as a vituperative barrister who delighted in spitting all over my companion – she won’t comment on actors who spit quite so readily next time!
Congratulations are most certainly due to Mandy Dike and Ben Rigby for excellent set design and fabrication, to Tom Richmond for sympathetic and effective lighting, to Maija Nygren for an abundance of splendid costumes and to director Abigail Anderson for a superb production. It’s a shame that this was only at the Burton Taylor for one night, because if you weren’t there you missed a real treat. Well done to the BT for another splendid show.