Steven Pacey in The Boyfriend and Midsummer Night's Dream
by Jann Tarrant
Going to see a show instead of working on one is always a treat. Going to see Steven Pacey in one? Well, not much could be better really.
I’m a bit of a cynic with plays. There’s a lot of third rate stuff out there, not only in terms of scripts, actors and production values, but also a recent surge in star quantity not quality.
So parting with £55 (I saw this show twice!) is nothing short of a miracle for me.
You can be guaranteed the Bard will provide a good book, so with only actors, lights, sound and set to worry about I set off to the park greatly looking forward to seeing Steven’s first live Shakespeare and for me a play I have not yet seen.
The Park is a perfect venue for the piece, the setting is ideal and if you can manage to ignore the air traffic and the emergency services going by, you couldn’t ask for a nicer spot.
I have to say the moment the players came on stage with their garden chairs and lawn mower I was hooked. Actors doing what they do, and so well. It was a lovely introduction to a truly enchanting show. The dialogue was clear and expressive as the cast frolicked, pouted, danced, jollied and wove wonderful spells of exquisite humour. Topped off by two stunning songs.
Ian Talbot’s directing was not only sensitive to the script and the venue, but also I think finding little qualities from each of the cast to lighten and delight. Special note going to the dizzy girls and the men involved in tug of war and poodle hopping. It was all highly energetic.
The set was simple, hillocks, grass and trees with lighting that served to enhance rather than make a statement by itself.
As for Steven, well I think he’s cute anyway, but add the long hair, leather trousers and highwaymans coat and he looked really great. His performance was very touching, this went for all the cast. His singing, divine (only wish there had been more of it!). To those of you that missed this show, my condolences. To the cast and company alike, well done an excellent show.
Steven’s second show at the park was a frivolous musical called The Boyfriend. Once again Ian Talbot directs and also appears in this one. Another box of delights.
Set in a 1920s finishing school with fluffy girls and boys and some questionable old men !?! I smiled, laughed and clapped for three hours. This is a fantastic show. Summer Strallen steals the piece with outstanding singing and dancing. It was one of those feel really good shows with a very high standard of performance from the entire cast. Set and costuming was superb with complimentary lighting. I did feel the sound operator hadn’t quite got to grips with the radio mic’s, but my enjoyment of the piece was not at all spoilt by such a minor thing.
Steven’s role in this was not huge, but as always he put every effort into it and played Percival with such a straight face it was impossible not to laugh.
For fans of Steven, “Dream” gave him a much meatier and more interesting role and it was obvious that he really relished playing it. He handled the whole vocal dynamic of being outside (even when a helicopter flew over), very well. He seems to have taken to Shakespeare like the proverbial duck to a large and adventuresome pond! If it means he gets to wear more costumes like that then bring it on. Someone talk to his agent please.
Going to see a show instead of working on one is always a treat. Going to see Steven Pacey in one? Well, not much could be better really.I’m a bit of a cynic with plays. There’s a lot of third rate stuff out there, not only in terms of scripts, actors and production values, but also a recent surge in star quantity not quality.
So parting with £55 (I saw this show twice!) is nothing short of a miracle for me.
You can be guaranteed the Bard will provide a good book, so with only actors, lights, sound and set to worry about I set off to the park greatly looking forward to seeing Steven’s first live Shakespeare and for me a play I have not yet seen.
The Park is a perfect venue for the piece, the setting is ideal and if you can manage to ignore the air traffic and the emergency services going by, you couldn’t ask for a nicer spot.
I have to say the moment the players came on stage with their garden chairs and lawn mower I was hooked. Actors doing what they do, and so well. It was a lovely introduction to a truly enchanting show. The dialogue was clear and expressive as the cast frolicked, pouted, danced, jollied and wove wonderful spells of exquisite humour. Topped off by two stunning songs.
Ian Talbot’s directing was not only sensitive to the script and the venue, but also I think finding little qualities from each of the cast to lighten and delight. Special note going to the dizzy girls and the men involved in tug of war and poodle hopping. It was all highly energetic.
The set was simple, hillocks, grass and trees with lighting that served to enhance rather than make a statement by itself.
As for Steven, well I think he’s cute anyway, but add the long hair, leather trousers and highwaymans coat and he looked really great. His performance was very touching, this went for all the cast. His singing, divine (only wish there had been more of it!). To those of you that missed this show, my condolences. To the cast and company alike, well done an excellent show.
Steven’s second show at the park was a frivolous musical called The Boyfriend. Once again Ian Talbot directs and also appears in this one. Another box of delights.Set in a 1920s finishing school with fluffy girls and boys and some questionable old men !?! I smiled, laughed and clapped for three hours. This is a fantastic show. Summer Strallen steals the piece with outstanding singing and dancing. It was one of those feel really good shows with a very high standard of performance from the entire cast. Set and costuming was superb with complimentary lighting. I did feel the sound operator hadn’t quite got to grips with the radio mic’s, but my enjoyment of the piece was not at all spoilt by such a minor thing.
Steven’s role in this was not huge, but as always he put every effort into it and played Percival with such a straight face it was impossible not to laugh.
For fans of Steven, “Dream” gave him a much meatier and more interesting role and it was obvious that he really relished playing it. He handled the whole vocal dynamic of being outside (even when a helicopter flew over), very well. He seems to have taken to Shakespeare like the proverbial duck to a large and adventuresome pond! If it means he gets to wear more costumes like that then bring it on. Someone talk to his agent please.
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