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Hats off to Adrian Bunting for conceiving such an entertaining theatrical diversion. In one hour he and his talented company told us the story of the disturbances at a theatre in Covent Garden that saw actor John Kemble brought down over an increase in ticket prices after his uninsured theatre was burnt to the ground. It could well have been enjoyed as a history alone but the parallels to modern banking practice where we are all being asked to pay for their mistakes and excesses are more than poignant. Brilliant performances from George Dillon as the arrogant Kemble, Alex Childs as his actress sister Sarah Siddons in a gripping slice of Macbeth, were matched by Steve North as rebellious Henry Clifford, and Julie Nash as Mary Austin Kemble’s supporter who rallied the audience to protest and chant. And given that we were fro the most part reserved Brits, we did a pretty good job of raising the roof and turning the tables on Kemble. A massive slice of fun with a hearty message to boot. I loved it.

The Old Courthouse, 13 May
Rating:
Andrew Kay

To put it simply, words cannot do this production justice. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ follows the inmates of a mental health establishment in America and their burgeoning friendship with new inmate RP McMurphy, a rogue of a man sent to the facility dodging a prison sentence by faking mental illness. This production is a full-on experience; you are part of the facility, you take your pills, you conform to the rules. To give a full description would spoil it for you; just take my word for it – YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!!!! Intense, thought-provoking and absolutely brilliant.

The Happy Cell Factory, 14 May (running May 20, 21 & 22)
Rating:
Lee Stevens

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre is a creation from the wonderful mind of Kev F Sutherland, a Scottish comedian and comic strip writer. Set behind a similar stand to Punch and Judy’s (except, Kev’s of course, was swathed in tartan) this show was original, comically spot-on and certainly swerved off the beaton track as far as puppet shows go. With one puppet (or sock) on each hand and Kev crouched behind the set, he worked his magic with his puppets with expert timing and vocalizations which created a notable difference between the two characters. The comedy banter between the two puppets was amusing and the show was spiked with songs that are or have been ‘popular topics’ such as a cover of Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’ re-written to incorporate everybody’s favourite instrument, the vuvuzela, or to be more precise what the puppets would like to do with said vuvuzela. Definitely one to catch if you can; how to surmise The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre? Darn it, he’s good.

Komedia, 7 May
Rating:
Melina Greenfield

I am a materialist when it comes to Shakespeare. I appreciate a solid production, first class acting and a light editing of the text. This had all three. But when it comes to costumes and scenery, I hate those productions dressed down so much they seem like extended drama classes. Material things, as Shakespeare’s Globe proved with this joyful and very funny re-imaging of Midsummer, can add layers and intrigue that breathe new life into one of the world’s best known English plays.
The setting was 1930s England; Puck (Bethan Walker) a cabaret star, Theseus and Hippolyta Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, and Brideshead-style teddy bears were used for one of the magic spells.

The cast made good use of the beautiful setting, at times sprinting around and through the audience, sitting among the picnicking crowds and teasing them. At one point limelight-stealing Bottom (Will Mannering) ran amok with some stolen strawberries and threatened to throw himself off the crumbling stone wall.

The actors flirted, reviled, joked and jilted with gusto and glamour, exactly as you’d want them to, adding new physical comedy to the text and sparking off each other to the delight of a sell-out crowd. A perfect way to spend a summer evening.
St Nicholas Rest Garden, 21 May
5/5
Rachel Pegg