The Bakery @ 1812
Phantom Call by Chris Hudson
The play was in the intimate theatre of the Bakery@1812 which well suited the production.
A very good set of a suburban lounge room with the front door on the audience’s left and on the audience’s right was the entry to the kitchen, 1812 always has the off rooms well set so when the audience looks at the off rooms, they do not see a bank wall but a well-furnished set.
The story is of amateur spiritualists and one sceptic . They have a séance and the departed one through the medium gives them the racing tips for the next day. Naturally, they all win. But!
A cast of seven all excellently played.
Opening we enter the home of the Musgroves, Marge and Charlie. Madge was given a great performance by Annie Laurenson who knew how to handle her husband, Charlie.
Charlie was played by Andrew McIver. A superb performance where Andrew played many roles. This is not easy to change characters at the drop of a hat but Andrew succeeded successfully.
Ryan Brennan played Mr Crimmens, the channel used by the medium to bring the spirits in. Another good portrayal of the actor playing several roles.
Patricia McCraken was the medium, Madam Zelda. Patricia must have been to play this role. Her portrayal was excellent. She went about the room calling the departed and the theatre gave an impressive display of lightning, thunder and at the right moments
Beryl was played by Shivanii Cameron. As one of the group, Shivanii gave a fine performance keeping up the standard as set.
Gloria was played by Rosie Leonardi. Another good performance particularly when telling off Mr Percy.
Mr Percy was played by Roderick Chappel who seemed a quiet character at first then turned out to be very selfish for which Rosie told him off. Roderick gave a good interpretation of such a character.
A well written show, very comedic with a little aspect of doubt
The Bakery@1812 gave its audience a wonderful and comedic night pout.
The Basin Theatre
Belle
The Basin Theatre opened its October season with Belle, a story of six sisters with one of the sisters, Peggy, ringing up the other five to say that their mother is in hospital suffering from food poisoning.
The sisters’ reaction is what the play is all about.
A very busy stage with the sisters spread across the USA, from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mississippi, Washington and Texas.
This was represented by various means from two bedrooms, a kitchen and a lounge room where Peggy broadcasts from which is a centre-raised stage.
The sisters all have their own peculiarities such as one who is a ventriloquist, another who has difficulties in her marriage
Peggy was played by Michaela Smith/ Peggy is the oldest daughter and still lives with their mother. She rang the other sisters to tell them about her mother eating some bad tuna but the other sisters had their own problems.
Technically The Basin handled the phone calling very well, Each sister had a telephone and when they rang each other the phone actually rang. The whole play was around the telephones with each sister ringing each other up throughout the evening.
The players gave good performances but one of the girls could have been a little louder.
A successful evening of theatre giving a few. Laughs and pathos.
