A word from the murderer……….

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WandaRaven
 on June 23, 2009
 in Iron
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Anna has asked me to post this as a view of how it feels to play Fay.

When we began rehearsing IRON, I was a little troubled by my character Fay (and that’s putting it mildly). I wondered if I would ever understand her or find any redeemable qualities in a character that seemed so flawed. Our director Thom advised us to steer clear of labels such as good, bad and evil. That was good advice and it allowed me to start the journey that all actors need to take when playing any character, but especially one that is the anti-heroine. I am now in a place where not only do I empathize with Fay but I am also quite fond of her. Underneath Fays destructive and institutionalized demeanor lays a living feeling person just like you and me…she is a gift to play.

First run through…nearly!

Published
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WandaRaven
 on June 23, 2009
 in Iron
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We had our first run through on Sunday, minus one actor, although our director stood in admirably. Not difficult for him really as I suspect he recites the lines in his sleep he knows the play so well!
Anyway, on Sunday, Robert, the Arts Manager and Graeme who was taking rehearsal shots for us were present. The first time we have had an audience - and the first Act had moments that were good and moments that need polishing shall we say! However, the second Act , when Robert and Graeme were no longer with us, has one of the most electrifying scenes I think I have ever been priviledged to see close up. I tried to stay in character but kept slipping into audience mode, and I found it hard not to cry.
If you are at all intrigued about this play, trust me, that scene in the second Act will be worth the price of the ticket alone.

Iron - A mother, a daughter, a murder !

Published
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WandaRaven
 on June 15, 2009
 in Iron
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These are interesting times for the cast of Iron, and I suspect Kiss of the Spiderwoman too. Rehearsing a play that has most of the “action” confined to a small space, whether that be a cell, the visiting room or the garden is a challenging prospect. The rehearsals started with the director being completely clear that on no occasion should we “label” our characters i.e. Fay as “evil”, or guard 1 as “nice”, and this has opened up the very very interesting process of questioning whether anyone is ever solely good or bad, or whether circumstsances lead us to act in specific ways. Obviously I don’t plan to give the game away but I do suggest that you come and see it, and decide for yourself whether you could have it in you too to commit murder……

Are you ready to be drawn into the Spider’s web?

Published
by
PeterLewis
 on June 14, 2009
 in Kiss of the Spider Woman
. 2 Comments

Take two strongly opposing characters: Molina (gay, submissive) and Valentin (revolutionary, macho). Place them in a cramped and de-humanising prison cell. Throw in a little storytelling for flavouring. And stir. Just one of the many topics that Manuel Puig’s Kiss of the Spider Woman explores is the transforming effect that people can have on each other simply by spending time together – even when enforced.

 

As Molina spins a web of fantasy to create a refuge for himself and Valentin in a world beyond the reality of their cell, the B-movie that he relates introduces the theme of metamorphosis. Irena, the heroine of the movie, is irresistibly drawn to the black panther prowling in its cage at NYC zoo. But Irena, like Molina, is hiding a dark secret. No, all is not as it seems in the Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires. Love is not the only thing in the rancid air of the cell. Everything is in a state of flux and as the characters start to mirror each other’s traits, mutation abounds. Woman becomes wildcat, macho turns metro and camp meets Castro; all accompanied by that lesser known miracle of turning porridge into poo. Intrigued? We hope so. Rehearsals continue apace (with some stellar performances, I hasten to add) and it’s all coming to a stage near you in a little under three weeks time (preview performance on Saturday, July 4th at 2:45). So why not come along and see if it changes your ideas too? The web is already being spun…   

Kiss of the Spider Woman Cast in Lock-up Shock!

Published
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PeterLewis
 on June 7, 2009
 in Kiss of the Spider Woman
. 2 Comments

Fortunately, it’s not quite as sinister as it sounds. The cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman and Iron took a recent opportunity to visit the prison cells at Steelhouse Lane Police Station in Birmingham city centre. As both plays, running in repertory at The Crescent from July 3rd to July 11th, are set in prison, it was a great chance to sample the atmosphere and feel the sense of confinement of a prison environment. The cells at Steelhouse Lane were built in Victorian times and resemble a prison wing with three floors of cells – something reminiscent of a scene from the prison in Porridge (without the laughs!). The casts had an opportunity to run a few lines inside a cell and the chance for some atmospheric publicity photographs wasn’t wasted. I’m not sure that I’m allowed to name the custody officer who arranged the visit but we would like to extend our thanks to him and his colleagues for their hospitality during our ‘incarceration’.

Meanwhile, rehearsals for Kiss of the Spider Woman are progressing very well. With just two actors, who are on stage constantly throughout the play, the roles of Valentin and Molina are both demanding and intense. But the rehearsals have not been without their lighter moments. Trying to fit two 6ft-plus grown men into a single bed being one such instance. There are plenty of technical challenges as well, such as Molina’s domestic chores – boiling water, making tea – while Valentin has to deal with a lot of eating – porridge, chicken legs and digestives with marmalade! July is approaching fast but everyone is working hard to ensure a successful production.

Bog Of Cats 5 star review!

Published
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AndrewCowie
 on May 29, 2009
 in 2009 and By The Bog of Cats
. 0 Comments

Bof Of Cats Birmingham Mail review

Just to confirm what a great week it’s been at the theatre this week, here’s John Slim’s 5 star review in The Birmingham Mail of the other show in The Crescent Theatre’s double bill.

Boogie Nights 4 star review!

Published
by
AndrewCowie
 on May 28, 2009
 in 2009 and Boogie Nights
. 1 Comment

BNreview Boogie Nights 4 star review!

There are only a few performances left so boogie on down!

By the Bog of Cats

Published
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EllieBradbury
 on May 26, 2009
 in 2009 and By The Bog of Cats
. 1 Comment

bogofcats2 By the Bog of Cats

Still alarmingly haunted by Rosie’s song By the Bog of Cats, it has taken me a couple of days to write this. I wasn’t sure what to expect prior to seeing the play and walking in to the dimly lit studio, I still wasn’t sure. Against a backdrop of tatty old caravan, a line of children’s clothing drying in the bleak wind and a knackered set of garden furniture, the atmosphere was haunting, spooky and poignantly sad. Automatically you knew this was going to be a dark play with sorrow and tragedy from the outset. Before even a word was said, Sarah and I were in tears. The opening song was truly beautiful.

Katie who played Hester Swaine was marvellous. As a deeply troubled young woman trying to do right by her daughter, the audience was overcome with understanding for her plight and sympathy for her heartbreak. And Rosie who played Josie, Hester’s daughter, was beyond talented. I was bowled over by how real her innocence was, she was magnificent. For a young girl working with such difficult subject matter, you might imagine her resolve to falter somewhat but no, she made you believe, she enveloped you in her childlike innocence and eagerness to please. She was truly captivating. This of course made the ending so much harder to bear and so much more real.

However there was some light relief ever so periodically with the wonderfully played Granny Kilbride. The speech delivered at The Wedding was superbly executed and wonderfully funny. It offered the much needed respite from the rest of this deeply distressing play. Norman’s portrayal of the sozzled priest again provided some gentle comic relief and made for such a great Wedding scene.

Each character, from Caroline to Simon, the ghost to Catwoman, Josie to the deadBlack Wing made for a truly excellent play full of deep sorrow, conflict and misery. If I can stomach more emotion, I shall see it again but for all of those who haven’t seen it, make sure you do but take some tissues…

Boogie Nights photos

Published
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AndrewCowie
 on May 18, 2009
 in 2009 and Boogie Nights
. 0 Comments
teresa-150x150 Boogie Nights photos
sarah-150x150 Boogie Nights photos

james-150x150 Boogie Nights photos
colin-150x150 Boogie Nights photos


Graeme Braidwood took some amazing photos at the Boogie Nights tech yesterday. There are more on the Facebook event and on the Crescent main website but here are a few I particularly liked.

By The Bog of Cats, Interview with Katie Edwards

Published
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SarahMcCaffrey
 on May 14, 2009
 in By The Bog of Cats
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By the Bog of Cats – Interview with Katie Edwards

Katie as Hester

Katie as Hester

We interviewed crescent member Katie Edwards on what we can expect from By The Bog of Cats, which opens next week.

Q - How would you describe the play in a sentence to those of us who don’t know it?

K - It’s a bit of a mix of old Irish superstition, mysticism and the actions of a wronged woman which ends in horrific tragedy.

Q. You play the leading lady Hester Swaine (previously played by Holly Hunter & Mary Elisabeth Mastrantonio at the Donmar in London) how would you describe the journey of your character ?

K - Hester was abandoned by her mother as a child of about 11. A ghost fancier comes to collect her soul at the beginning of the play but he has come at the wrong time, bit like a grim reaper but more normal spirit (Colin Simmonds). There is mystical significance with her and a black swan who has just died and she is very close to, it had been predicted that she would live as long as the swan.

On top of this Hester has been dumped by Carthage (Simon King), the father of her 11 year old daughter, and she has never gotten over this and is desperate to get him back.

Basically people are trying to get her to leave the Bog of Cats as the land that she lives on in her caravan and house are owned by carthage and Caroline now as she was forced to sign over any hold on the land when she was in a vulnerable state.

Hester is a bit clairvoyant too and is visited by the ghost of her dead brother which gives us further insight into her tragic and somewhat shocking past.

Playing Hester has proved to be extremely challenging and it took me a while to get inside her head.  She is a very complex person ho seems to be emotionally underdeveloped and although being extremely worldly in some ways, she is a lost little girl in others. As a result, she deals with situations she can’t cope with in a very destructive way.

Hester is constantly on the brink of some kind of situation and so in that respect I am unable to ‘chill out’ at any time throughout the whole play. There are so many characters who have some kind of grievance with Hester, or vice-versa, and because of this, the action develops into a car crash that seems inevitable.

Q- Blimey, how do the other characters fit into the play, we heard a rumour about Jo eating mice?

Well Caroline’s Dad (Les Stringer) is a bit of a git and it is hinted at that he may have abused caroline before and been responsible for the death of his own wife and son. Cathage’s mum (Pat Dixon) is a mean woman who is always being nasty to Josie, Hester’s daughter, and hates Hester.

Jo, not eating mice

Jo, not eating mice

Catwoman (Jo Thack) is a clairvoyant and yes eats real mice, but you have to watch the show to see if she does this live on stage! She is also blind, and she tries to warn hester to leave as she knows something awful is going to happen and like Monica (Chrissy Griffiths) they desperately try and reason with hester to leave.

Thanks Katie that’s fantastic, I can’t wait to see it.  With such a gripping plot and a formidable cast I fully expect to be blown away!