We went tonight and really enjoyed - thank goodness the rain held off - this outdoor production of what must be (after A Midsummer Night's Dream) the most perfect comedy in the English language. More performances tomorrow and next week - details here.
The director, Jonathan Kaufman, used the garden space very well and imaginatively, and the pace and timing were generally excellent. All the individual performances were good - I would pick out Tom Franck as Jack and Carmen Rodriguez as Lady Bracknell for special mention.
The one downside was that the acoustics were less than perfect - though in our case this was partly the result of an ill-judged decision on our part to sit under a noisy extractor fan on the outside of the back wall of the pub. However, things improved considerably after the interval, when I think the microphones were turned up a bit and, even more, when the extractor fan was turned off, half way through the last act.
'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
-
Robin Orton
- Posts: 3380
- Joined: 9 Sep 2008 07:30
- Location: London SE26
-
safdirector
- Posts: 150
- Joined: 25 Aug 2010 11:09
- Location: Sydenham
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
Spontaneous Productions is pleased to add extra performance dates of its latest show, The Importance of Being Earnest, open-air at The Dolphin Pub.
The new dates are: Weds 7th, Thurs 8th & Friday 9th September (all at 8pm).
This is in addition to the three dates remaining this week:
Thurs 1st, Fri 2nd Sept (8pm) and Saturday 3rd Sept (3pm)
For the very first time the company is able to use radio mics for all the actors, so audiences should be able to hear every word!
Tickets (£10 full price, £8 concs including under 16s, over 60s, disabled & fulltime students) are available from Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 3RS. Or phone 020 8778 4701
Previous shows (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sherlock Holmes & The Three Musketeers) have sold out fast so book now to avoid disappointment!
Jonathan Kaufman, Creative Director
The new dates are: Weds 7th, Thurs 8th & Friday 9th September (all at 8pm).
This is in addition to the three dates remaining this week:
Thurs 1st, Fri 2nd Sept (8pm) and Saturday 3rd Sept (3pm)
For the very first time the company is able to use radio mics for all the actors, so audiences should be able to hear every word!
Tickets (£10 full price, £8 concs including under 16s, over 60s, disabled & fulltime students) are available from Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 3RS. Or phone 020 8778 4701
Previous shows (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sherlock Holmes & The Three Musketeers) have sold out fast so book now to avoid disappointment!
Jonathan Kaufman, Creative Director
-
safdirector
- Posts: 150
- Joined: 25 Aug 2010 11:09
- Location: Sydenham
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
At last it looks as if the weather's improving, so if you haven't already got along to The Importance of Being Earnest in The Dolphin Pub's garden, please do!
Shows tonight, Thursday 1st, tomorrow Friday 2nd at 8pm, and Saturday 3rd at 3pm.
Plus extra dates next week, Weds 7th, Thurs 8th and Fri 9th Sept, all at 8pm.
Read the fantastic review by author Stephen Vizinczey here:
http://stephenvizinczey.blogspot.com/
tickets available from Kirkdale Bookshop or phone 020 8778 4701
plus tickets on the door!
Shows tonight, Thursday 1st, tomorrow Friday 2nd at 8pm, and Saturday 3rd at 3pm.
Plus extra dates next week, Weds 7th, Thurs 8th and Fri 9th Sept, all at 8pm.
Read the fantastic review by author Stephen Vizinczey here:
http://stephenvizinczey.blogspot.com/
tickets available from Kirkdale Bookshop or phone 020 8778 4701
plus tickets on the door!
-
Robin Orton
- Posts: 3380
- Joined: 9 Sep 2008 07:30
- Location: London SE26
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
Not surely the Stephen Vizinczey who wrote the trail-blazingly erotic In Praise of Older Women which I remember fondly from my youth? If so, I guess his opinion is certainly worth listening to!
-
safdirector
- Posts: 150
- Joined: 25 Aug 2010 11:09
- Location: Sydenham
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
Indeed, the very same author of In Praise of Older Women. I met him after the show and he was very impressed!
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
Today is a fine summersday and tonight will be one of the warmest. This is a splendid way not to waste it!
The Dolphin Gardens are probably the best and most beautiful new space created in Sydenham for many a year. Too good for just a drink. Not that stopped me from carrying a pint of Landlord into last night's performance of “The Importance ..”. The gardens were key to the performance as they were to the 2008 Midsummer Nights Dream and subsequent annual extravaganzas by Jonathan & crew. This, like 2008, a great English classic normally constrained by the closed physicality of the proscenium arch or the impossibility of creating the outside inside.
It also gives the actors space to roam, to be both remote or alone, to engage or disengage with each other and the audience. What we saw and enjoyed was a true country garden in SE26.
It is also a challenge to the actors not to get lost in form and in voice. Every word of Wilde's fast, furious and funny dialogue are key. An innovation this year is every actor is miked. Every word can be clearly heard everywhere. It takes a few moments to get used to the voice coming from a different direction from the actor but any issue quickly disappears because the actors could concentrate on creating the quick, witty repartee without worrying about having to throw their voices to those sitting thirty feet behind.
The main leads are all young which helps match Oscar's characters. Forty-somethings actors no matter how distinguished don't look right falling in love for the first time. Ros Parker's Gwendolen was a telling role in portraying the young flirtatious girl clearly destined to develop all the future horror of her mother Lady Bracknell (Carmen Rodriguez) who thankfully made the part her own without parodying the well hackneyed 'handbag' and 'Victoria Station' phrases. Gwendolen was well matched against her mistaken rival for Earnest's affections by Ciara Myakicheff's Cecily. Initially appearing as an innocent young ward, Cecily quickly develops the steel that marks out the women as the true movers and shakers of Oscar Wilde's play.
The gradual disintegration of Algernon (Oscar himself?) played by newcomer Joseph Attenborough from dominant arrogant rogue to Cecily's simpering supplicant was a star performance matched nicely by Tom Franck whose Jack Worthing was both physically and spiritually a true re-creation of Rodney Bewes nice but befuddled Bob from the Likely Lads. They and the audience clearly enjoyed their sparring.
A small intimate cast but performing on a huge stage supported by, three other actors who would deserve a bigger role. Next year maybe?
Stuart
The Dolphin Gardens are probably the best and most beautiful new space created in Sydenham for many a year. Too good for just a drink. Not that stopped me from carrying a pint of Landlord into last night's performance of “The Importance ..”. The gardens were key to the performance as they were to the 2008 Midsummer Nights Dream and subsequent annual extravaganzas by Jonathan & crew. This, like 2008, a great English classic normally constrained by the closed physicality of the proscenium arch or the impossibility of creating the outside inside.
It also gives the actors space to roam, to be both remote or alone, to engage or disengage with each other and the audience. What we saw and enjoyed was a true country garden in SE26.
It is also a challenge to the actors not to get lost in form and in voice. Every word of Wilde's fast, furious and funny dialogue are key. An innovation this year is every actor is miked. Every word can be clearly heard everywhere. It takes a few moments to get used to the voice coming from a different direction from the actor but any issue quickly disappears because the actors could concentrate on creating the quick, witty repartee without worrying about having to throw their voices to those sitting thirty feet behind.
The main leads are all young which helps match Oscar's characters. Forty-somethings actors no matter how distinguished don't look right falling in love for the first time. Ros Parker's Gwendolen was a telling role in portraying the young flirtatious girl clearly destined to develop all the future horror of her mother Lady Bracknell (Carmen Rodriguez) who thankfully made the part her own without parodying the well hackneyed 'handbag' and 'Victoria Station' phrases. Gwendolen was well matched against her mistaken rival for Earnest's affections by Ciara Myakicheff's Cecily. Initially appearing as an innocent young ward, Cecily quickly develops the steel that marks out the women as the true movers and shakers of Oscar Wilde's play.
The gradual disintegration of Algernon (Oscar himself?) played by newcomer Joseph Attenborough from dominant arrogant rogue to Cecily's simpering supplicant was a star performance matched nicely by Tom Franck whose Jack Worthing was both physically and spiritually a true re-creation of Rodney Bewes nice but befuddled Bob from the Likely Lads. They and the audience clearly enjoyed their sparring.
A small intimate cast but performing on a huge stage supported by, three other actors who would deserve a bigger role. Next year maybe?
Stuart
Re: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Dolphin
We saw it tonight.
It's brilliant.
It makes fantastic use of the space, the acting, especially from the lead actors is fantastic. Go and see it. It deserves every accolade. We are so lucky to have productions of this quality right on our doorstep.
I'd happily have seen it in the West End (and the sound is great with the radio microphones).
It's brilliant.
It makes fantastic use of the space, the acting, especially from the lead actors is fantastic. Go and see it. It deserves every accolade. We are so lucky to have productions of this quality right on our doorstep.
I'd happily have seen it in the West End (and the sound is great with the radio microphones).