Finborough Theatre Archives - Page 9 of 25

After Dark; or, A Drama of London Life

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 20th June 2019

★★★★

“once you get your ear into a penny dreadful frame of mind, it becomes engrossing and plain fun”

If you’d told me that a Thursday evening in Brexit Britain following the latest instalment of a soulless slog towards finding the new Tory Prime Minister would have seen me grinning along to a rousing rendition of Rule Britannia, complete with Union Jacks, I’d have laughed in your face. But perhaps the play is right; all the best things do happen After Dark.

Written by Dion Boucicault (who based it on Les Oiseaux de Proie by Eugène Grangé and Adolphe d’Ennery), the work, subtitled A Drama of London Life, was an 1868 box office hit. London life is right; we find ourselves at the nexus of some key moments in our city’s past. Robert Peel’s bobbies patrol the streets, the new Metropolitan line (cleverly rendered) plays a starring role and (gulp) empire is held above all. Despite adjustments for modern audiences (director Phil Willmott rightly removed anti-Semitic characterisation), this remains every inch the melodrama, with ham in spades. The music hall is still alive at the Finborough, with the saucy ditties to prove it, and some depictions border on panto. Toby Wynn-Davies as sly lawyer Chandos Bellingham, for example, is only ever a signature song away from Fagin – but once you get your ear into a penny dreadful frame of mind, it becomes engrossing and just good plain fun. Wynn-Davies in particular brings real menace, especially in a beautifully-choreographed scene making the most of the clever sliding set and a terrific thunderclap sound effect.

In fact sound (Julian Starr) and lighting (Zak Macro) are, uniformly, first class. Rousing Victorian brass sets the scene and the live music too is of exceptionally high quality; Gabi King, Rosa Lennox (who is also musical director) and Helen Potter deliver a genuinely affecting rendition of Abide With Me, amongst other more ribald pieces. Hannah Postlethwaite’s adroit staging, establishing all of London from treacherous Rotherhithe to a smart hat shop, combined with liberal quantities of dry ice, make the small space feel genuinely atmospheric. It doesn’t take long to believe we’re in the murky streets of old; fans of Sherlock Holmes will find plenty here to enjoy.

Those of us who have had a sticky tube journey here might be heard snorting at the underground described as a ‘glorious pathway of shining light’, and certainly there are other moments that date the piece even uncomfortably (the uneasily stereotypical Russian dance troupe springs to mind). But approach the night with tongue firmly in cheek, anticipating an ending of Shakespearean levels of silliness, and you can’t go too far wrong.

Reviewed by Abi Davies

Photography by Sheila Burnett

After Dark; or, A Drama of London Life

Finborough Theatre until 6th July

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

Square Rounds | ★★★ | September 2018

A Funny Thing Happened … | ★★★★ | October 2018

Bury the Dead | ★★★★ | November 2018

Exodus | ★★★★ | November 2018

Jeannie | ★★★★ | November 2018

Beast on the Moon | ★★★★★ | January 2019

Time Is Love | ★★★½ | January 2019

A Lesson From Aloes | ★★★★★ | March 2019

Maggie May | ★★★★ | March 2019

Blueprint Medea | ★★★ | May 2019

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

★★★

“D’Silva as Medea gives us a leading lady trained to fight and win”

Euripides’ classic has been re-imagined by Julia Pascal and her company to tell the story of a female Kurdistan Workers’ Party fighter who flees the contested geography of her birthplace to seek asylum in Britain. Here she meets and falls in love with a young man who has taken the name Jason “because it’s cool”. Jason will later revert to his given name of Mohamed and the demands of his traditional Iraqi family. You can guess what happens next.

It’s worth reviewing the programme notes before the show starts. They contain a lot of helpful information that explains the complicated background that inspired Blueprint Medea. They also explain the link between Greek Medea and Kurdish Medea (the contemporary Kurds are descendants of the Medes whose empire, the Greek historian Herodotus tells us, once stretched all the way into modern Turkey). Once the show begins, we are plunged straight into the heart of its dilemma – how is Medea going to survive in this alien place called London where she doesn’t speak English, and furthermore, has arrived with a forged passport? With the aid of flashbacks, Pascal and company give us a sketch of the tragic events that led Medea to London, and the fateful meeting with a “young god” named Jason.

There is much to like about Blueprint Medea — it successfully spans vastly different worlds and cultural expectations all within the tiny intimate space that is the stage of the Finborough Theatre. A simple but versatile set designed by Kati Hind (who also created the lighting) and the muscular direction of Julia Pascal show the talents of the actors to best advantage.

Ruth D’Silva as Medea gives us a leading lady trained to fight and win (even if that means using scorched earth tactics to do so). The ensemble of actors around her have individual moments to shine, and Tiran Aakel deserves special mention for his ability to switch effortlessly between such roles as the Kurdish fighter who trains Medea, and Jason’s demanding Iraqi father, who insists that his son follow the customs of his tribe. It is also worth noting that although Pascal does not employ a Chorus the way Euripides did, there are lovely moments where the whole cast takes on a Chorus-like role very effectively.

Ultimately, though, there are just faint traces of Euripides’ original in this “blueprint” version. But Pascal has found a story powerful enough to stand by itself. Blueprint Medea is a multifaceted and complex drama, and is capable of making a connection with audiences wherever they may be.

Reviewed by Dominica Plummer

Photography by Isabella Ferro

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 20th June 2019

★★★★

“once you get your ear into a penny dreadful frame of mind, it becomes engrossing and plain fun”

Reviewed by Abi Davies

Photography by Sheila Burnett

After Dark; or, A Drama of London Life

Finborough Theatre until 6th July

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed – 23rd May 2019

★★★

“D’Silva as Medea gives us a leading lady trained to fight and win”

Ultimately, though, there are just faint traces of Euripides’ original in this “blueprint” version. But Pascal has found a story powerful enough to stand by itself. Blueprint Medea is a multifaceted and complex drama, and is capable of making a connection with audiences wherever they may be.

Reviewed by Dominica Plummer

Photography by Isabella Ferro

Blueprint Medea

Finborough Theatre until 8th June

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue: