Tag Archives: Ed Nightingale

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: Homework, London Theatre

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It’s rather poignant that Homework is performed in the same week that Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or winning film Amour is released.  Where Amour focuses on an elderly woman and her husband coping after she endures a stroke, Homework depicts an elderly woman suffering from dementia.  Both pieces deal with the impacts of these conditions on the women’s’ loved ones, torn between devotion and frustration.

Homework, a new play from playwright Howard Colyer, is structured as a series of thirty phone calls, each instigated by ‘Mother’ to her son ‘Vincent’ and beginning with the words “Hello?”, “Who’s that?”, “It’s Vincent”, “Who?”, “Vincent”.  This sets up an inherent cyclical structure that reflects the repetitive nature of Mother’s life.  Due to her condition, she is forced to replay in her mind the best and worst moments of her life and is compelled to call her son frequently.  Jean Apps’ performance is a touching and well-played portrayal of dementia that is believable and heart-wrenching.

Vincent (Jonathan Benda) acts as a foil to develop the narrative.  Where Mother is stuck in a constant cycle, Vincent is torn between compassion towards his mother and frustration at her constant phone calls.  This reaches a peak at the climax of the play where his feelings finally erupt.  His feelings are mirrored by the audience and we rely on him to drive the plot.  Unfortunately, Benda’s performance felt flat and the tension in Vincent’s emotions lacked nuance.  As such, the ending felt a bit sudden.  In addition, this only served to emphasise the repetition of the narrative.

Director Scott Le Crass has done a commendable job of bringing the script to life.  Libby Todd’s set design is well dressed and the rapport between the characters is credible.  Difficulties arise with the time between phone calls.  With no specific stage direction, the audience are often left to simply watch the two characters’ lives unfold.  As a result, what on paper is a fast-paced and snappy script becomes, in reality, a little sluggish.

Continues until Saturday 1st December, more information here.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Ed Nightingale.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: The Ruby Dolls, Rubies in the Attic, Riverside Studios

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Entering the studio we are immediately greeted by the glamorously dressed dolls – a suitably warm welcome from the gracious hosts.  We are invited into “the attic”, filled with old, dusty paraphernalia that sparks an exploration into the dolls’ (and the audience’s) ancestors.  It’s an appropriate start to the evening which has a homely, old-fashioned, almost wartime feel.

The show is a cabaret act filled with inventive storytelling, incorporating everything from song, dance and monologues to comedy and puppetry.  The stories take us around the globe, visiting South Africa, Paris, Italy and (charmingly) the tale of a Jewish tailor.  Music is integral to the show, the chanteuses singing in the respective accents and languages and the whole show is commendably underscored by Benjamin Cox on piano.  The dolls themselves have a lovely blend of voices that enchant from song to song.

With the focus on the dolls’ own ancestors, there’s a personal feel to the proceedings that’s touchingly played.  Yet there’s plenty of humour here too – frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious – and everything is performed to the audience with a knowing wink that keeps things light-hearted.  Clearly good friends, the dolls have great rapport with each other – laughing, smouldering and bickering – and often include the audience in their interactions.

The Ruby Dolls are a surprisingly sexy and unique act that deserves a much longer show.  Make sure to catch them at the Edinburgh Festival – this act is a little gem worth seeking out.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Ed Nightingale.