Anne Morley-Priestman
Not every farce, even the classic ones of British theatre, stand up to repeated viewing. Michael Frayns 1982 success Noises Off does. It’s given a spankingly energetic production by Peter Rowe in a set by Richard Foxton which swirls us from stage to back-stage and back to the stage. After the hilarious second act, the third can be a bit of a let-down; that doesn’t happen here.
Leading the cast as elderly actress Dotty Otley, determined to lead her own compny on a national tour for the last time is Rosemary Ashe. As Nothing On (the play within a play) creaks its way to utter disaster, she gives a beautifully controlled portrait of someone with her own take on fading out gracefully. Or should that be disgracefully?
Ashe is matched by Jamie Newall as the insufferable Oxbridge-educated director Lloyd Dallas, for whom this wretched provincial tour with a cast made up largely of done-it-all-before thespians is undertaken purely for mercenary motives, though he is bedding the one young woman in the group – not to mention the ASM. Newall’s timing is impeccable as the technical rehearsal turns out to be almost as chaotic as the actual performances.
Also on the verge of retirement is Selsdon Mowbray (Col Farrell). Mowbray presents three problems to his fellow players: he’s a bit doddery, he’s hard of hearing and he’s much too fond of the bottle. Farell’s character wanders on and off, missing his cues, getting in everyone’s way and gently upstaging anyone who crosses his erratic path.
As if two girls scratching each other’s eyes out over the director – Saskia Butler as eye-candy Brooke and Victoria Yeates as stage manager Poppy – weren’t enough, the second male Nothing On lead Frederick is fighting a personal disaster, a need to know his motivation for each move and a tendency to wilt at the sight of blood. All three are very good, as is Jemma Churchill as Belinda, the middle-aged actress trying her best to keep the whole show in one piece, including the cast members.
Charles Davies is Garry, nominally the male lead but hopelessly outmatched by everyone else as doors stick or refuse to stay closed and vital props dematerialise. His temper tantrums are very funny, as is the dogged resourcefulness of Gavin Spokes as company manager Tim, trying hard to satisfy too many commitments with too few resources. All in all, this is what ensemble playing is all about. It’s worth keeping in your seat for at least one of the two intervals, by the way, if only to see how a proper stage management team goes about its labours.
WOS rating ***** (5 star)
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It's a Wonderful Life
10 September 2009
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The Sunday Times
27 September 2009
4 Stars
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The Stage
24 September 2009
With its despised banker and background of economic volatility, there was rarely going to be a more apt moment to launch the world premiere musical stage adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life. The question was could the travails of honourable George Bailey be given musical life without cloying sentimentality ruining the show's rhythm?
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Variety
22 September 2009
A New Wolsey Theater presentation in association with Avalon Promotions of a musical in two acts with music by Steve Brown, book and lyrics by Brown and Francis Matthews, based on the Republic Entertainment motion picture, inspired by Philip Van Doren Stern's short story "The Greatest Gift." Directed by Peter Rowe. Musical direction, Dane Preece.
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reviewsgate.com
20 September 2009
... and it gets better with age.
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The Daily Mail
18 September 2009
HOLLYWOOD COMES TO TOWN...sort of
It's A Wonderful Life (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich)
Verdict: It's a wonderful show - 4 StarsThe Shawshank Redemption (Wyndham's Theatre, London)
Verdict: A stretch too far - 2 Stars -
www.onesuffolk.co.uk">www.onesuffolk.co.uk
18 September 2009
When movie director Frank Capra produced his James Stewart vehicle in 1946, he could have had little notion of what a classic it would become.
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Ipswich 24
18 September 2009
New musical World Premiere at New Wolsey, Ipswich
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Review from James Wade
17 September 2009
The play is set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls just after World War II. It sees George Bailey preparing for his suicide on Bedford Falls' bridge, when, personal angel ‘Ace' shows. He then tells his angel how he dreams of escape, and how every time he tries to escape he is grabbed back in to everyday Bedford Falls life. This is shown by his ‘unsung hero' attitude in the Bedford Falls community, until he wishes he was never born. He then sees his true place and impact on Bedford Falls with and without George Bailey.
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Review from Lori Thurston
17 September 2009
‘It's a Wonderful Life' set from the 1920's till the late 1940's in the small American town of Bedford Falls, is the story of George Bailey, whose ambitions had been shattered by the suffocating demands of his unfulfilling life, causing him to resort to suicide.
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East Anglian Daily Times
17 September 2009
SHOW WAS WONDERFUL
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Plays International
16 September 2009
From cornball 1940s film to feel-good musical proves a journey well worth the taking.
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The Evening Star
16 September 2009
A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF A WONDERFUL LIFE
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BBC Suffolk Online
15 September 2009
It's a Wonderful Life is often called a timeless classic and will almost certainly be found towards the top of 'all time greatest film' lists. But will it work as a musical?
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The Evening Star
10 September 2009