Difference between revisions of "Cloud Nine (2006)"

Revision as of 10:51, 24 May 2007

Poster by Mark Davies

by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Dave Hollander

Performances: Wed 20th – Sat 23rd September 2006, Prompt Corner

Introduction

In 19th century colonial Africa, Clive and his family are flying the flag for the British Empire. At first glance, they represent the model of civilized society, ably assisted by their servant Joshua, a local man. However, it soon becomes clear that all is not well - Clive's wife and mother-in-law seem disquieted by their remoteness from British society; and his young son, Edward, is not the pillar of masculinity he might have hoped. The cracks in the family portrait really begin to show with the arrival of intrepid British explorer, Harry Bagley and the distraught Mrs Saunders, who has recently recovered from an attack by 'the natives'.

In Act 2, the setting has shifted to 1970s London, but the characters have matured by 25 years. Betty is having problems adjusting to modern urban life and longs for the heat of Africa. Meanwhile her daughter, Victoria, is unhappily married and seems to spend most of her time hanging out at the local playgroup with another young mother, Lin. Edward has found work as a gardener in the local park and is similarly dissatisfied with Gerry, his lover. How will resolution be achieved?

Caryl Churchill's classic play covers 'serious' themes: family values, sexuality, race and conflict. Nonetheless, Churchill deals with these topics with characteristic lightness of touch - their apparent heaviness is tempered by uproarious physical and verbal humour.

Cast

Act 1

• CLIVE - Simon Scholes
• BETTY - Richard Armstrong
• JOSHUA - Guy Jones
• EDWARD - Louisa Evans
• MAUD - Stephanie DePalma
• ELLEN - Crystal Evans
• HARRY BAGLEY - Adrian Sutton
• MRS SAUNDERS - Crystal Evans

Act 2

• BETTY - Crystal Evans
• EDWARD - Richard Armstrong
• VICTORIA - Louisa Evans
• MARTIN - Adrian Sutton
• LIN - Stephanie DePalma
• CATHY - Simon Scholes
• GERRY - Guy Jones

Crew

• Stage Manager - Graham Clements
• Assistant Stage Manager - Kieran Cusack
• Lighting Design - Bob Callender
• Lighting/Sound Operator - Naomi Liddle
• Costumes - Val Williams
• Production Photography - Mark Davies

Reviews

"I had no idea what to expect as I'd run a mile every time I heard Churchill's name at University and I'm not saying I'm going to be buying her whole collection now but this production and this particular play was a joy to watch. It took me a few moments to adjust to the style of the piece but once I had accepted the gender swapping of certain actors I realised how it clever it was.

The young Edward, played by a very energetic Louisa Evans bounced around the stage at the beginning annoying his/her family and being rather accurately like a 10 year old child - mischievous and wanting everything, though it was playing too much at times to a type. The character does start to lose his innocence when the explorer Harry Bagley turns up, making the play darker than first appearing - though still played more for laughs. I would have liked this to be slightly darker... But then that could be said of the whole first half, a humorous and satirical look on the British Occupation in Africa. With more cracks than a broken mirror.

The servant Joshua, seemed to have his own agenda, being the perfect servant but at the same time having a deeper and much darker purpose. Always standing on the edge of a scene gave him a greater sense of power and control, as he witnesses this rather confused and dysfunctional family.

Simon Scholes who played Clive was an interesting one. He seemed born to play the role, a beefy man with a 'Cricket and Sandwiches' air about him. I had assumed that this was his range and perfectly typecast. I was of course wrong as he completely threw me off track in the 2nd half of the play with an amazing diverse range of characteristion - his skilful interchanging was fascinating to watch. As an experienced designer I was pleased to see the Prompt Corner being used in such an interesting set-up for both halves. Though I did feel at times the stage picture could have been slightly less cluttered.

In Act 2, the setting has shifted to 1970s London, but the characters have matured by 25 years. Crystal Evans, performed both roles in a very understated yet interesting way; almost as if she was trying not to draw too much attention to herself (often almost seemingly not acting, which is a compliment) - her performance lends itself to an actor who knows it was originally a devised piece with actors i.e. comfortable.

Stephanie DePalma who played Maude in the first act comes into her own in the 2nd act. Lin a gay woman who has a child from her violent marriage is in love with Victoria appearing as a rag doll in the 1st Act but by Louisa Evans in the 2nd. Stephanie has a great voice for stage and her physicality and within these scenes was the highlight of the 2nd half. There are some brilliant monologues in the 2nd Act, the highlight being Gerry's speech played by Guy Jones about his experiences whilst out walking and a short but heartfelt Simon Scholes as Lin's cousin in Belfast, something that would have been even more poignant when the play was first written.

This play is dark, humorous and played with minimal fuss. The scenes could be tighter and some moments could be held on the bench in Act 2 longer, but these are small details. Dave Hollander should be commended highly for brilliant use of Prompt corner and for bringing us a interest and varied piece of theatre. It's just a shame I can't come again. (4 out of 5 stars)" (Mark Bullock)

"From the opening song it was clear that we were in for an ensemble piece. And something different. I love something different. And I loved this.

Within seconds we were thrown into a bizarre world of gins on the terrace, terribly eager to please wives, and menacing servants. It was all so over the top, so terribly unreal and yet so terribly British… We're then thrown into the seventies… and suddenly we get the same emotions, the same problems, but now dealt with by different people. Or the same people. Or their 20th century 'feel-a-likes'.

To pull off a piece like this you need a director who knows where they're going, a strong cast who're willing to go on the journey and a commitment from the whole company to lay themselves bare.

Mostly new members threw themselves with gusto into the piece and created one of the funniest and moving - and naked - pieces of theatre I have seen this year.

A few variations in pace might have spiced it up a little - it was played hell for leather and there were a couple of points where the cast could have paused for breath, reflection, and bathe in the moment they had created. But those are quibbles. I shall now whip myself with a doll." (Stuart Draper)

Gallery

Production photos by Mark Davies

• 

  Betty (Richard Armstong) and Harry Bagley (Adrian Sutton)

• 

  Clive (Simon Scholes) and Joshua (Guy Jones)

• 

  Clive (Simon Scholes) and Mrs Saunders (Crystal Evans)

• 

  Betty (Richard Armstong), Maud (Stephanie DePalma) and Edward (Louisa Evans)

• 

  Ellen (Crystal Evans) and Maud (Stephanie DePalma)

• 

  Lin (Stephanie DePalma) and Cathy (Simon Scholes)

• 

  Edward (Richard Armstong) and Gerry (Guy Jones)

• 

  Edward (Richard Armstong) and Martin (Adrian Sutton)

• 

  Victoria (Louisa Evans) and Martin (Adrian Sutton)

• 

  Betty (Crystal Evans) on a bench

Reminiscences and Anecdotes

Cast and director at the aftershow party

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.

See Also

External Links

• Cloud Nine production blog
• Cloud Nine production photos, by Mark Davies