Reviews

Terry Jones Fairy Tales

Gill Derbyshire

Review of Sally Pryce’s concert at Tealby Village Hall, Sunday September 7^th.

Fresh from her performance of Joe Duddel's Flute and Harp concerto at the  Presteigne Festival, Sally Pryce, a former finalist in the  BBC Young Musicians Competition gave an entertaining solo Harp recital at Tealby’s Village Hall last Sunday.

Her first piece, Benjamin Britten’s Suite for Harp, opus 83  immediately showed off Sally’s ability to conjure up ranges of colour and timbre that are  necessary to make Britten’s music come to life. Each of the five movements were well characterised and received a strong and vivid performance. Few  - if any  - great composers wrote much music for solo harp. Alvars’ Serenade, op 83, though no doubt an interesting technical study in its day, seemed too derivative and cliché ridden to be of much interest to modern audiences – but this certainly could not be said of Glinka’s Nocturne. Though written to be performed on piano or harp, this had a harmonic richness you might expect from the composer of Ruslan and Ludmilla. Huw Watkins’ Suite for Harp is a contemporary work, and gave full scope to Sally Pryce’s technical abilities. An evocative, exciting piece, this gave the recital a different dimension, before the last piece, Tournier’s Sonatine Opus 30. Though Tournier’s work is admittedly rather derivative – Ravel and Poulenc come to mind, the piece is  beautifully written for the harp and shows off the instruments’ possibilities, at the same time conjuring up some fabulously evocative sounds. This was an engaging recital, which showed off the qualities of the solo harp and was excellently played .

Wine tasting evening  Friday 2nd May

Another 'sold out' event which raised over £500 for the Village Hall. Waitrose again provided the wine and their resident expert to guide us through the tasting. We had seven wines this time, four whites and three reds. It is always good to sample different wines, but I was slightly disappointed . . . the whites, with the exception of the New Zealand Riesling, seemed rather bland - is it that our palettes are becoming more sophisticated, or are the large wine producers content to push out vast quantities of inoffensive 'middle of the road' stuff? It would have been interesting to have some very different wines - ones from South America, Central Europe, South Africa for example, and to sample some cheap and some expensive bottles[ or would that let the cat out of the bag . . .?]. The best part of the evening was the chance to sample the superb range cheeses, chosen by Anne Maunsell and Gill Derbyshire, and the delicious desserts contributed by our talented village cooks.

Madame Lucinda’s Wonder Show   

The Memorial Hall was packed on a windy night on Tuesday, 11^th March to watch Rogue Theatre’s production of this Wonder Show based on characters in a circus. The atmosphere before the show was typical of a Victorian variety theatre, the lights were low and the lavishly decorated stage curtain promised many delights. The full house comprised people of all ages from early teens to octogenarians.

The Rogue theatre, sponsored by the Arts Council in association with Lincolnshire County Council put on a colourful show with clowns, jugglers, magicians, trapeze artists and other circus performers. In addition there was an underlying story about a doll (Svetlana) that a magician / clown (Sirus) tries to bring to life because of his love for her.

 The Hall committee was fearful when the trapeze artists swung from the Hall beams but thankfully both the performers and the Hall roof remained intact.

The ringmaster was played by Angelina Boscarelli who worked in a circus for many years before setting up the Rogue Theatre Company. Sirus was also played with aplomb by a man with circus experience, Ollie Oakenshield. Wendy Taylor played Svetlana with great athleticism and Molly Weaver played Lo-Lo the clown. The show was supported by wonderful music that was written and performed by Ben Sutcliffe, the company’s musical director.    

In all the show included magic, comedy, ballet, trapeze, live music and an underlying narrative on a colourful stage. This family show was a great success enjoyed by all.

 ‘In Search of Pontiflunk’ was an exciting and thought provoking one-man show produced by New Perspectives Theatre Company.

 The play, written by  Phil Smith, was inspired by discovering and reading  George Hurst’s’ account of his walk from Manchester to Leicestershire  in the early 20^th century. Smith followed Hurst’s walk in 2007 and ‘In Search of Pontiflunk’ is the result.

During his walk, Hurst had planted hundreds of acorns: it was part of Smith’s aim to see if any of these documented plantings had grown into mature trees. The answer was none. The reasons why, discovered through a myriad of characters and situations that he came across on his walk tells us much about 20^th century rural Britain. Some of it depressing beyond measure – the heedless pollution of our natural environment, our moral abandonment of the value of beauty and repose. But, paradoxically, Smith gives us some hope, that as the 21^st century dawns, and that plunder rebounds on ourselves, we start to see – not too late we hope, the environment in a different light.

Josh Darcy, who played Phil Smith, was terrific. He managed to combine and contrast the three narrative streams brilliantly. He kept us aware of the ‘plot’ -  Hurst’s original text -  while weaving Smith’s ‘real time’ commentary around it, The third narrative was Darcy’s wonderful acting and mimicry which brought out all the wit, satire and pathos of Smiths’ text.

The production was excellent; the atmospheric lighting and images made Tealby Village Hall the ideal venue. Though nearly a sell-out, the very poor weather resulted in a smaller but enthusiastic audience. If any of you would like to see the show, it is touring around small venues around Lincolnshire for the next few weeks – check them out on www.newperspectives.co.uk.  And ‘Pontiflunk?’ - Hurst's dog, whose untimely death cut short his adventure. A terrific evening.

 Brian Dawson

 Yellowbelly Stories

was the title of the entertainment staged at Tealby Village Hall on Saturday evening.

An ensemble of eight actors took us through four playlets centred around the origins of the word ‘Yellowbelly in Lincolnshire folklore.’ The first was ‘Barnard’s Leap’ a rendering of the Ancaster witch legend. The second attempted to make a curious comparison  between Charles Wesley and Bernie Taupin [a one time Tealby resident]. Wesley’s championing of Methodism and its reaction against the perceived apathy of the Church of England may perhaps draw parellels with the struggles of the evangelical movement today, or indeed,  Bernie’s lyrics.

 By this point I was becoming rather confused – was this a search into the derivation of the word’ Yellowbelly’, or was it a quick run though Lincolnshire myths and legends?

 The second half began with ‘The Fifteenth Soul’ – an ‘investigation’ of the Grantham rail crash of 1906. Parallels could be drawn between this rail disaster of 1906 and recent rail accidents where corporate neglect have resulted in similar heartbreak.

 Those who can remember wet Sunday afternoons in the 50’ and 60’s will remember the constant repeats of ‘Old Mother Riley’ films staring  Arthur Lucan and Kitty  McShane [his real life wife ]. Cutwater Productions last cameo was a  violet and surreal commentary on Lucan’s [ Who would ever think of looking for him here? ] 1934 Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. It certainly brought into perspective Lucan’s position in  the ranks of  Benny Hill, Jimmy Clitheroe, Danny La Rue and Eddy Izzard. One could not fault the energy here !

 This was a production not without its longueurs. Times have moved on and narrative pieces like these need to be far more tautly written and directed. The dialogue was pedestrian at most and this communicated a lack of confidence and energy to the cast. Only small efforts with costumes and scenery [ by ‘Desperate Dan Productions’ . . . .  what more can one say? ] would have given the production more ‘atmosphere’ and presence.

 So a rather disappointing evening, but there is some potentially interesting material here that some tight editing and perhaps some more imaginative stagecraft could turn around.

Friday 16^th November 2007

Wine Tasting Evening at Tealby

 Tealby Village Hall hosted a wine tasting evening last Saturday. The wines were supplied courtesy of Waitrose. Their intended  ‘sommelier’ was indisposed, so into the breach as it were stepped Phil who pulled out all the stops to provide us with an entertaining and educational evening.

 We sampled eight wines in all, four whites and four reds. The stars were the Ned Waihopai Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Marlborough  and the Bouchard Pere et Fils 2006 Fleurie.  – not to say the others didn’t have their own qualities too, though one of the reds had a tannin content rarely experienced this side of the Rase.

 After the tasting the Village Hall committee put on an excellent cheese board and some delicious home-made apple pies.

 This was a most enjoyable evening, with a full house. Thanks to the Village Hall Committee for organising this, and to, of course Waitrose for supplying the wine. Waitrose have generously agreed to provide another tasting evening in the Spring – can’t wait !

 Vacant Possession

Sunday October 21st

, Ray Brown’s two-hander, originates from the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe is just the sort of play that is ideal for a venue such as this – a fact the actors commented on this during rehearsals.

 The play centres around the contrast in social position, moral values and political stance between Joe Sweating, ‘an ageing, charming, word spinning eccentric’ and Gary Roebuck ‘an anxious, artless 1980s leftie’. Such contrasts can prove obvious and self justifying, but Ray Brown manages, with some deft and skillful dialogue, to explore the raison d'être of these personalities and draw out the inconsistencies and inherent contradictions in what each character had considered as totally watertight philosophies.

 What made this so interesting, so funny, so pathetic at times, was the brilliant dialogue. Comic, slapstick, satirical, crude, and sophisticated by turns, we were taken through the evident truth that there is nothing so funny as listening to someone straining to be convincing [switch on the News if you don’t believe me].

 If the first half was comic, the second half was tragic. Two seemingly different disparate characters now seemed hell-bent on self destruction. But in a scene which recalled the finale to Flaubert’s novel Bouvard and Pécuchet, the nearness of death seemed to clarify their minds and they rapidly, and dramatically [melodramatically of course for Sweating, a sentimentalist at heart] they realise that loneliness was their shared downfall, love their only shared salvation.

 Phillip Manikum as Sweeting, and Jamie Smelt as Gary Roebuck gave a performance of energy and subtlety. Their ensemble work was terrific and the drama had a sense or organic development as it  flowed along. A delightful set too. Choc-a-block with memorabilia – irrational and sentimental. And of course – haven’t I mentioned it before? – the inflatable. . . . . Walking home, I noticed that there were quite a few houses for sale . . . indeed, as one would say [one would, wouldn’t one] . . . err    . . .  . vacant.

Sunday 9th September 2007

Tealby hosts International Music Festival

Lincoln’s International Chamber Music Festival paid its first visit to Tealby Village Hall on Sunday morning. The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘The Romantic Experience’. This particular concert featured music by Paganini, de Falla and Piazzolla. It was given by the guitar and violin duo of Naolo Miyamoto and Stewart French.

 Paganini  was of course a  violin virtuoso, but also liked to play the guitar, so it was only natural that he would compose a set of sonatas for this combination. They were elegantly played and the relationship between the ornate violin part and the more reticent guitar was well pointed.

 De Falla's ‘Suite of Spanish Folksongs’ are of course transcriptions, but they work well with this instrumental duo: the soaring violin lines and the staccato arpeggios of the guitar depict an atmosphere quintessentially Iberian.

 The second half was given over to the music of Astor Piazzolla – ‘the king of tango’. Piazzolla’s music is heavily influenced by the rhythmic structure of this dance. To some composers would be a straightjacket, but Piazzolla subjects the tango to a veritable tour de force of rhythmic and harmonic variation, powerfully realised in this performance. I was transported to the sights and sounds of  Buenos Aires . . . as the last note died away it was back to reality, but a least it was the reality of a lovely sunny morning in Tealby!

The performances were marvellous, full of rhythmic vitality, vigorous at times, at other times soft and silky – truly the ‘Romantic Experience’. Thank you, Naoko and Stewart for entertaining us so well. Only two seats were left unsold – is there an audience for more regular concerts like this? Thanks again to the organisers of the Music Festival for choosing Tealby – we all hope to see you here again next year. Their website is www.licmf.org.uk.

 David Kirshner

Network of Stuff’s

Thursday 12th April 7.30 pm

new show is a hilarious tale of two men who find themselves thrown together in the belly of a whale and their accidental adventure to a waterfall at the edge of the world.

see review