08 September 2010

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

CHRISTOPHER BARTLETT- Reginald
ADRIAN BEAUMONT - Sir David
HANNAH BINGHAM- Ensemble/Florence (Dance Captian)
LUCY BRADSHAW- Miss Kenton
SOPHIE JUGÉ - Ensemble/Mrs Taylor (Dance Captain)
REUBEN KAYE - Mr Lewis/Mr Farraday
STEPHEN RASHBROOK - Stevens
DUDLEY ROGERS - Stevens Senior/Man on pier
GEMMA SALTER - Ensemble/Sarah
KATIA SARTINI - Ensemble/Ruth
PAUL TATE(Unwell tonight)- Meredith/Mr Spencer
LEEJAY TOWNSEND - Dupont/Policeman
ALAN VICARY - Lord Darlington
REBECCA WHITBREAD - Ensemble/Dorothy

Musicians

ELAINE BOOTH - Reeds
MARY ERSKINE - Cello
LORNA YOUNG - Violin
Music, Book & Lyrics by Alex Loveless
Directed by Chris Loveless
Movement Director Omar F. Okai
Instrumental Arrangements & Ensemble Vocal Arrangements by Rowland Lee
Musical Director/Dance Music & Vocal Arrangements by Richard Bates
DAVID SHIELDS - Set & Costume Design
Seen at the lovely little Union Theatre after a delay due to a cast member being ill.


The idea of setting this piece to music confused me at first but it is of course, the perfect candidate.
It really requires a lavish production which it cannot enjoy in this sweet theatre but all the stops were pulled out and in the end the material sells the whole thing.

Some songs are the kind you might have heard audiences singing as they left the Cambridge Theatre. Others were weaker and just plot serving whilst several were lost in some of the heavy-handed musical accompaniment.

There were some beautiful performances here which could certainly be retained for a bigger production. All in all, this was a wonderfully refreshing surprise.