Monday, 9 October 2017

Autumnal Shades


Yet again it's been a week of contrasts at the theatre, for me at least. My week began with at the New Wimbledon with Selladoor's production of Flashdance, a musical stage adaptation of the 1980s hit movie starring Jessica Beals. It was disappointing not least because I have now seen a few Selladoor productions and rather enjoyed them. This was simply a bad choice of show featuring a lazy and surprisingly dated book and a score that oddly lacks dynamism. I felt my review for The Stage pretty much said it all but it didn't stop the Stage Manager from questioning my criticism on Twitter.

I was back in Wimbledon the following evening for Child ofthe Divide at the Polka. This was my first ever visit to the Polka, although I pass it regularly on the way to the gym, but I have to say it's a lovely space. Of course, it doesn't have a bar but it is a children's theatre so what would you expect. I found Child of the Divide enlightening, although the speech before and after the show is critic catnip as far as I'm concerned - save it for the aftershow party.
My third theatre trip was to the Stratford Circus - a venue I hadn't been to for at least 15 years. It's changed a great deal, feeling much more like the Arts Centre it professes to be. I liked the show too - Big Foot, a story about what it means to be a man, at least amid the South London Guyanese community.
I will say at this point that the unifying feature of each show so far was that every one had gone up late. In total, I had spent more than half an hour longer than I should have waiting for the lights to fall in auditoriums.  It only annoys me because I am usually early for a show and will expect it to start on time. You'd think that after 20 years I'd have gotten used to it.
Anyway, my final show of the week was the one I was probably looking forward to the most. The Soulless Ones at Hoxton Hall is an immersive piece in the manner of the classic Hammer horror movies. Sadly, it was neither scary nor exciting. There was a big, chewy script and a decent nod to the design but I began to lose interest quite quickly after I'd checked out every room. What concerned me the most however was the cost of the ticket. Of course, I didn't have to pay but at £48 is far too much for what was more a promenade production rather than real, immersive theatre. I didn't feel involved in the action in the slightest, merely an observer. It's a great idea but Hammer need to rethink it's creatives if they are planning this again. For £48 I'd at least expect to taste the blood of Dracula!

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