Category Archives: 2021
Hear. Speak. See
Back on my laptop at my desk with a south facing view of a Glasgow street I scrolled in and around this year’s online theatre festival Scenesaver. I came across ‘Hear, Speak, See’ by the West Midland production company ‘Expial Atrocious’ made up of three female dynamic actors and writers; Nic Lewton, Ez Holland and Faye Bingham. The show had been performed previously at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Met by a black screen we heard voices from the radio and the sound of breathing. A mysterious character had been invited to a dinner party in seeming innocence but we were given a clue when the invite ended with ‘…you don’t want to disappointment.’ To which the dinner party scene was revealed.
In its strangeness we were in a first person stance because the fourth member of the party was the view from the camera. All in white the other three were at the other side of the table, looking like ghosts or zombies but were in fact mostly human.
They conversed with speed and action moving very quickly from topic to topic as it took their fancy. They seemed fast friends who knew each other very well welcoming us (or the camera) to the party dedicated to the camera.
Dinner was served in the form of tomato soup for starter, salad for main course with a final fate full cake for desert. So went on the conversation that was bubbling together in their expressions of table manners and synchronisation. It was like lots of snippets of real life chat and conversation. But as one left the room to fetch the starter the other two spoke openly behind her back, which was like a betrayal. When she came back with four bowls presenting each there was a silence of awkwardness as they ate.
She pulled a seat alongside the camera to covey her feeling that came out with the tenderness of genuine fear of something. She knew the other two were plotting against her and as her adrenalin
rose her voice did the same and in a panic she told the camera to escape the coming situation.
It was a weird world created by the camera, with weird behaviour but it began to lead to something, tragic. Our detectors were flexed when one of the three in white mentioned that something had happened and that that very moment would bring justice to something.
In its own downfall the plot fit into segments that all led to a specific moment. There was a threesome of taunting and fire fuelled rejections as things became more and more upset. They
landed in chaos on more than one occasion and when the story was revealed it turned the page with a hellish view.
The camera blurred and sound was muffled but she/he never spoke. If it was psychedelic there would have been a guidance warning. It was a view of a view and perhaps a vision. They spent the
consumption of the main meal in silence we watched as they ate their food and emptied their plates, I sniggered a lot.
This story coped well with its arising and experimental offering of a dinner party that was with a crown of weirdness on a darker level. Cleverly abstract, metaphorically unsound with placed and
hidden artefacts, conversations that ran like a ballet and then like a dance. Somehow making total sense of its dream like quality or should I say night mare. With more to offer its bones were ripe and it’s sentiments clear as a celebration and tragedy of a calamitous portrayal.
Daniel Donnelly
Alice’s Shadow
In a change of direction I scrolled through the horror plays listed in this year’s Scenesaver online festival. Being a few weeks into the experience I recall that it has been easy to view their productions at the click of a button. I stopped at the title ‘Alice’s shadow’. The Thornhill Theatre Space presented Alice as a damsel in distress.
For a short 12 minute play written by Chloe Gorman who has successfully made a transition into theatre she boldly established her production company ‘Moth Sanctuary Productions’. The ‘Whispers in the dark’ has the dark side of things to express. Chloe and her friend and actor Andrew Bate sat together for a short interview about their roots and aspirations; it was Andrew who was to read her short tale about shadows.
The writing straight away had the effect of fear put in by Andrew as he revelled in the occasion. It cleverly climbed in our minds as a thing of terror. Alice lay in bed with her partner Gabriel (who had a big role in consoling her.) She suffered hallucinations that were quite severe and during this night she saw a shadow at her window that appeared to be moving.
We could do nothing to aid her as she distressed over the dark encounter. Both Chloe and Andrew find that the potential in this genre of writing are huge and varied. We sampled her work and found the descriptive juices leading somewhere with extenuated rolling of the tongue reaching something of a poetic in style framing the words with passion.
The shadow was Horror brought to life. In its terrifying presence poor Alice lay so still questioning in her mind for what was real in what was happening to her. Just as we felt that the story placed us in its very heart. The description of the shadow was ever changing. It was black with tendrils; making impossible movements up the sheer wall to the ceiling. Alice must have wondered about her own sanity.
For minutes we were taken deep into its plunging darkness but for Alice the episode at last abated, in cold sweat all around she found herself left peaceful on her bed. She turned to Gabriel seeking solace from her terrified state.
He turned round but it was not him that she saw his eyes were wrong. There was timing in this short performance that was exquisitely enunciated by Andrew. He broadcast the psychologically disturbing horror with a focus that wouldn’t let you go.
From this writer/actor relationship the story backed their feelings that horror can step up as a valid form of literature. Its appeal was filled with a richness that glowed as we imagined the words dripping from her pen letting out her whims of daemons and ghosts.
Cleverly leaving the story with the question remaining whither it was real or not for Alice, Gabriel or perhaps most importantly us the audience.
Alice’s shadow grew in the room in a swirling, dark and murky yet resplendently well dressed and tastefully presented show. They had my interests sparked and inspired with a story to creep into my subconscious in a way that seemed to have its own will. And its message’s can be understood in many ways but who would make the right one.
Daniel Donnelly
Confessions: The Hour
Still on the dark side of things Natascha Graham’s horror play had its roots in the real world. Called ‘Confessions: The Hours’ Natascha’s character loomed in the ‘Whispers in the dark’ productions for the Scenesaver online festival. To unfold was a tale of woe and sorrow. Most personally performed the act was about what men feel (or rather don’t feel) about women and how they respond to them in kind.
She wrote this as a sufferer of male domination. Lesbianism has not been made easy in this world. The act was of sorrow that bravely brought about some kind of control by Natascha. As she sat in her chair in her slender body language we could see that her state was wobbled and her eyes were full of horror fighting back the tears.
She took to the task she had set herself of bringing a voice to the widespread suffering she knew of for women at the hands and verbal comments and attitudes of men. By simply breathing deeply, in and out, she confessed her heart to us with torrid examples of things that have happened to her (what else could she do?).
She scowled as she told the story of a young woman who had a male stalker following her around. It gained momentum as a story went into the focus of how terrifying these encounters could be. It was her misfortune to see it as a symbol for all men.
All of a sudden the coin dropped when he turned up at her house. She would invite him in opening her door. She did this with a mind that something had to be done. By this time men to her only meant trouble, the kind that is best avoided. The revealed crime story ended as she solved her problem in her own way.
After this exciting story of fiction she was again a woman in a world of pain, of unfairness without the spark of even a fight. But her story was well executed and in its heights reached with a touch of crime to portray the problem as perhaps something absurd but unchanging in a world of unbalanced perpetration.
Daniel Donnelly
Doing Shakespeare
All components came together well for this online performance where six actors, all of whom knew each other well, had come together to perform and outperform each other in what became a comedic jostle for creative control. It was immediately obvious that they all knew Shakespeare well. The Northern Comedy theatre had produced a take on Shakespeare and acting that hit the nail on the head as it came together as a kind of workshop.
Using every kind of tool including the use of Zoom as it was meant to be, the split screen message was most of all about fun. They showed off their medieval costumes of flaring hats, plumy shirts, hair tied in plates, lace necklaces and so on. But they were all dressed for different plays. This came to light as they recognised the different passages that each read out.
We are performing ‘King Lear’ one incensed that’s what we decided on at our meeting! These words set the tone for a very great and lively, and very comedic debate that only led to an unorganised chaos that had Shakespeare being quoted as whips from the tongue as if it were as easy as breathing.
The show put Shakespeare into every kind of examination and developed every nuance of theatrical trickery and went ahead with such a speed of dialogue that flew by and really entertained with good gusto.
In all they covered six plays from Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet, all their plays have had the most serious of attention in the theatrical world but ever was humour present. The take of these six was to open his plays as they opened in the time, to free Shakespeare up and bring them to the attention of hopefully as many people as possible.
They set about with joy not drudgery, with great respect and were held together as a serious and incredulous making of their own play about bringing them together. After debate they came to the devious conclusion that they would all read from their different plays yet they would put them together as responses. They decided that actually no one would really even notice when king Lear would speak and the witch from Macbeth would respond.
This was definitely an overflowing celebration of commanding control of a confetti of worlds and wonders of Shakespeare’s plays. Relevant and daring, putting the works into so many facets, coming up with such a great plethora of insights, wisdom and knowledge, all done in a 40 min skit.
Daniel Donnelly
Forgotten Voices
Forgotten Voices singled out the story of a South African couple Eva Moorhead Kadillie and her husband Clements Kadalie who in the early Twentieth Century played a huge part in the then political upheavals of the Country regarding the high racial sectarianism between so called ‘White’ or ‘Black’. The natives had long suffered under this ruler ship and long found themselves without right of law for anything.
In this play the actions and interactions of the couple Eva and Clements were performed by the vivacious portrayal by Shareesa Valentine in a wonderful performance. The compact writing by David Moorhead for this one woman play took us through the trouble’s, and where enacted only as lots of stories.
With so many things afoot for Eva she spoke with a well navigated truth about what it is like to have a forgotten voice in a place where it’s all you have. The tides were high as the play went through its passing stages ‘‘I must tell you my entire story, I really must’, as she spoke those words both strength and desperation imperilled her. With great importance the momentum swung into moments such as her surprising encounters where on her boat set to leave Africa for England she was mistaken for white and the doors of a rich life opened.
Her grandmother whom she had never met lived in England Eva aboard a vessel. In her heart (that was put into words) she heard her inner voice exclaim to her passion that she would in fact remain and give aid to her Country.
In the hands of this tactful story: the storm that rallied her really blew her around. Though she always went back to herself, her strength and her wonderful character of will! through the gripping drama; in a true story. Shareesa’s face had expressions for every tale in her 100 life times hold on the world.
There was a solid naturally well contained in the writing. Really bringing the enormous struggle for simple rights there were dates, losses, victories on the side of the new formed ICU who put a big shark on the table. Eva would be filled with glee during her victories as she held her great hope to the sky
Her hundred lives of adventure were lived to her own great capacities, making the act an enormous challenge. Her married life gave them three children for example, but she decided on the spot to give one up thinking of his future acceptance in racist society and on she lost not long after giving birth.
Shareesa’s performance of Eva was to rival the plots that gave this life the simplest of things: the right to land, to safety and to be allowed to thrive, Eva and her husband so touchingly breathed life into a huge box of great uncertainty. She knew well to listen to her heart; she suffered terribly with badly screaming voices for her head to complain about but her victorious attitude was enough to set so many free, if only for a while. ‘We must fight on’! Was the deliberation she yelled!
Daniel Donnelly
Persephone
Oxford Playhouse
12th November, 2021-11-15
The Oxford Play house has celebrated its first return to the stage since the pandemic with musical play about the ancient tale of the heroine Persephone. This Jazz Hands Production relives the Greek story that portrays pivotal standpoints for both gods and mortals. A show lovingly created by the Play house students with the full and touching return to the stage with an important play.
In a jovial mood then the rewriting of this story began with Persephone and her mother Demeter tending to the seasons of the planet (being the gods of Harvest) with Persephone being a most beautiful of daughters but whose father was Zeus himself, king of the Greek gods. As they tended their earthly paradise that mortals survive we found them in a forest with Demeter concerned about her daughter’s position in the world.
Persephone’s young and freely innocent spirit desired more out of her life but of the outside world she had no idea. As she dreamed her songs exclaimed her feelings where all she could do was yearn for tomorrow, with the fates already deliberating her coming adventures. She left her home one night answering the call that her heart had made to her. And when she returned Demeter tried to tell her daughter that the world out there was not as she thought.
Persephone’s powerfully beautiful character so comprised of two great and powerful gods brought her to spend a night without coming home which set her mother Demeter’s worry into overdrive.
She had gone far into the woods (world) and it became clear that she had fallen for someone she met in a gathering. When she went out to meet him again they tried to talk he reluctantly introduced himself as none other than Hades up from his realm hell. It was the beginning of the life she yearned for. It was too strong to ignore though into peril she went, with her mother’s warnings were thrown to the wind.
The classic story from ancient Greece involved their gods who ruled Olympus, the heaven of the Greek world. Persephone’s fates started to become of importance as Zeus himself had willed. The idea of Olympus was portrayed as nothing more than a comfortable office inundated with paper work at desks and continuing the downplaying Hell was a world of quiet and peace.
Written and directed by Emma Hawkins this magically endearing ploy was a match of music set design and costumes all of which complimented the other very nicely and of good taste in order to bring the story to life in a most refined fashion, yet all without fancy, even Zeus wore a smart suit without the smallest hint of gold or any other precious metals.
Hades and Persephone had a deepening and profound love that struck them both without being able to think on anything else. But Hades despaired his position and left his home to speak with Zeus. Who enjoyed tormenting his brother encouraging Hades to do as he pleased, the world of Persephone was to be upset and turned round by events to follow.
The Muses/chorus wore their garlanded and flowery togas, sang in their tradition dancing ad joining the gods both pushing and pulling them, reflecting the plot of Persephone’s imminent demise. She who only knew that love may be a great adventure.
It didn’t stop her from being heinously broken by the advances of Zeus. She found herself in Olympus conversing with him. He explained that her absence from duty had caused cold weather and starvation. And as we saw her break from his careless violence the lights stopping was very meaningful.
The vying story that had been thrown open; became quiet and tender when to console her in stepped Aphrodite (the goddess of love). We were all by now on a flying adventure through the worlds and heavens; all the while taking its time to tell the story that simply rolled around the stage. The great use of the reality of Persephone’s trials came in spoken word and music to take the show away.
The motherly wisdom of Demeter knew what would happen to Persephone. She left to look for her daughter the second time she went missing. Her grief was at hand when he heard what had happened. In her heart she found resolve to forgive and take care of her daughter.
It was Zeus who played the villain not Hades, though he also didn’t always seem to be entirely on the level. Our attentions were stretched by the precise nuances. Hermes, Hera, Zeus and Hades; we still revel in these names but do we understand them and their very nature?
The presence of folk music, costumes and storytelling, the play had a fresh and new example to make with Olympus seeming to be a victim of its own crime. Aphrodite’s part was of the wounds being healed. She sprang around with Persephone, singing songs and drinking some. She gave Persephone a new reason to live and held her in her darkest hour. The personalities of the gods took on an interesting identity as benevolent yet confined by their individual duties.
As she regained her strength Persephone returned home to be reunited with her mother. The sweetness of this scene rivalled all the scenes of the gods. And they ever so faintly sensitive sang and rejoiced. Quietly they understood each other’s toil and turmoil, with the whim of things being almost forgotten.
It’s hard not to think of this play as being perfect. Such an evening of good theatre retelling a tale with every kind of metaphorical fruit lade bear, lavishly told with grace and exciting music, in a set and performance that was most sad but most loving with nature at its heart. A witness brought about through tragic betrayal of to the beauty that can live in life.
Persephone and Hades remained in love and of the future nobody would know, but we came to revel in the story of a journey’s timeless all pervading story that has truly stood the test of time, still as vibrant, new and refreshing, classically portrayed for any modern era.
Daniel Donnelly
An Interview with Sam McGowan
Hitting pipes with Flip Flops has proven to be a great success for JunNk. The Mumble caught up with the man behind it all
Hello Sam, so where ya from & where ya at, geographically speaking?
Hello! Currently I am sitting in sunny Florida, enjoying being back in America after not being able to visit for so long due to the pandemic. I was born in Essex, England but live in the south in the heart of the New Forest.
When did you first find yourself getting into the dramatic arts?
As a kid, I was always a part of some amateur dramatic group; but it was when I first started studying Performing Arts at Brockenhurst College and being immersed with other talented performers where I thought this is something I wanted to do.
Can you tell us about your training?
My musical training is all self-taught, I learnt to play guitar first, and used this skill through school and college for bands and musical theatre shows, which increased my love of the arts. However, it was when I started JunNk that I learnt how to play drums and piano. A ‘learning on the Job’ approach; I knew early on that JunNk had the potential to be huge, so I didn’t want to hold back.
By 2021 you have become quite the polymath – a performer, producer, director, and manager. Why so many strings to your bow?
I have always strived for success in everything that I do; I want to deliver the best, which led me down a path of learning as much as I could, expanding my skills and knowledge in order to have the best understanding of everything I was involved in.
I started JunNk in 2008 with 3 of my best friends, from a performance point of view it was a 25% split on stage, however everything behind the scenes needed a lot more attention, everything from running the business, marketing, branding, bookings to building the equipment, arranging the music, casting additional performers. The list goes on, I quickly adapted the ability to do it all and I loved it. Producing and directing more JunNk shows as we started expanding, creating new ideas and opportunities for the company. It was, and still is, a rush and my passion for the show and my determination to ever expand makes it all worth it!
So, what for you makes a good piece of theatre?
For me, it is about being able to create a world that you can immerse yourself into, a complete interactive experience; I want to forget about everything else except what I am watching.
You’re also quite an award winner – can you run us through a few?
JunNk first won a Sky 1, TV show called Don’t Stop Me Now back in 2012 which was the start to our awards. Following that we went on to win the ‘Act of the Year’ award for our corporate engagements in the UK in 2013. Our Edinburgh fringe debut in 2016 led to us win the ‘Spirit of the Fringe Award’; fast forward to 2019 and our debut at the Orlando Fringe where we won 3 awards; Best Family Show, Pick of the Fringe and Best Marketing.
On to JunNk; where, when how & why did you get the initial impulse to create the show?
JunNk started as a college project, and we had a dance exam for part of our performing arts course; collectively we weren’t the best dancers, so we created a very basic form of JunNk to get past the exam.
It was laid to rest after college until we entered a competition on ITV’s tv show Dancing on Ice, they were searching for an act to tour with the production show; I pulled the guys together to take part and we were placed 5th overall. We then entered a local talent competition in Bournemouth, we came runners up however a talent scout watched our performance and later offered us some work if we could create a 45-minute show. This was the starting point to the creation of the JunNk you see today.
Can you give us an overall picture of the JunNk experience?
Truly like nothing you’ve ever seen before; using various items commonly found in a junkyard, the four hilarious performers energetically combine superb acappella singing, captivating percussion, innovative musical creations and mesmerising gymnastics to produce a lively, dynamic and fun show that consistently delights audiences of all ages and nationalities.
From using bottles as panpipes and watering cans as trumpets, to playing well-known tunes on drain pipes with flip flops and a PVC tube as a didjeridoo, a show that really is a unique and sensational whirlwind of pure entertainment that should definitely not be missed!
So its essentially a ‘rubbish-powered variety show’- how do the audiences react in every age group?
We have been very selective with the variety that we add to the show to make sure we can reach a wide spectrum of ages. The show is perfect for all and due to the lack of spoken word also makes it popular internationally for all cultures!
Who writes the material for the show – the jokes, the comedy, etc.?
The material normally starts with a basic idea, a song, a sketch etc and then we would workshop it in a rehearsal; essentially if we found it funny it would go in the show. Quite a lot of the show was generated by me and some of the guys just messing around. When it comes to the music, depending on the songs I would arrange some and bring them to a rehearsal and we would ‘JunNk-ify’ them.
Since its inception, then, how has the show evolv’d?
Most things have a ‘sell by date’ so I try to keep most things updated and current, some bits of material continually do well with the audience so have become classic parts of the show. The biggest part of the show that evolves is the creation of instruments, I’m constantly coming up with new ways to make music, building more equipment to deliver even more unique ways to make sound!
Tell us about China & Abu Dhabi?
Even though JunNk is based in the UK, we have done more tours in China and Abu Dhabi than England; both countries are unbelievable, I love them, and our show is always so well received. Incredible theatres and amazing people, I cant wait to get back over and tour them again.
So Covid. How big an obstacle did it prove to JunNk’s progress?
Live entertainment has certainly been one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic, with ongoing and ever-changing restrictions plaguing its full comeback. Even in a pre-covid world, the entertainment business is far from easy, with live entertainment usually operating on a last-in, first- out basis, often being seen as a disposable luxury for most events. The pandemic caused the JunNk to lose two year’s worth of contracts overnight. Like many, the company was devastated, however persistence and determination managed to keep the company alive and growing and we are coming back stronger than ever!
In the dark days of the Lockdowns, did you ever feel like you wanted to give it all up?
Honestly Yes, but that was on a cold dark winter’s evening during a power cut… it didn’t last! I then lit the fire and got to it. I turned to the digital age and quickly grew a TikTok following of eighty thousand followers, generating over ten million views. This was the spark I needed to kick JunNk into our post covid gear and start to get the show back out there.
Tell us about your collaboration with Dana McKeon?
This started as a covid project, I met Dana while we were both performing on a cruise, she’s an incredible artist. We had similar goals and an equal passion for creating music, we started by covering Justin Timberlake’s – Cry me a River before deciding to write an original song together. We put our heads together and wrote ‘Love Language’ where I mixed the original sound of JunNk and the beautiful vocals from Dana to write a commercial pop / tropical house song. Love Language made it into the top 10 in the Malta PRS charts. Me and Dana have more in the pipeline so keep those eyes peeled.
You’ve now got an eye on America – what stokes the interest & what are your Transatlantic plans?
So I started JunNk in Orlando, FL in 2018, we have 2 teams that are set for Cruises, theme parks and theatres, touching a market that we hadn’t been able to do with the UK team. America offers a world of opportunities, we have strong connections with Disney due to the Cruises we have done with them over the years, so we are now working closely with another production company to open as many opportunities as possible. A very exciting time that’s for sure.
& Finally, you’ve got 20 seconds to sell your show to a stranger in the street – whaddayasay?
JunNk the manic love child of Stomp and the Blue Man Group, come immerse yourself in our zany world of comedy and music.
www.junnk.co.uk
An Interview With Daniel Donnelly
At this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Daniel Donnelly was the veritable captain of the Mumble’s skeleton crew
Hello Daniel, so where are you from & where do you reside today?
I have a little tale to tell about said upbringing. I was born in Glasgow’ West End, moved to Erskine till 2 (I swear I can remember this), lived from 2 till 9 in London and wound up before I knew it in a little plush village in the East Netherlands. At the time it felt like we had struck gold. The whole (though short) saga all came about as my father followed his work around. In London we lived in Hammersmith, a short walk from the prison Wormwood scrubs. I definitely remember walking to school.
My sister was born into an already full house of three children, I was two when she was born and I do remember that. The family split in Holland so after a time we left to retreat back to Glasgow where I have been ever since.
I am residing in York hill, a Glasgow West End location where I have been for many years. its an original tenement flat with high ceiling’s and spacious rooms not far from City Centre and the deeper West End.
You’ve almost single handedly reviewed the Edinburgh Fringe for the Mumble in 2021 – what’s it feel like to be the backbone of a skeleton crew?
I didn’t realise that my Fringe efforts would be singled out like this as a back bone, but being part of a skeleton crew has handed me another aspect of the refreshing business of reviewing theatre and really enjoying the fringe. In many ways things are normal with plenty to do and see. But it hit home at the normally packed Pleasance Court yards where there were only two food shacks, the pub was closed and there was no one standing in a busy crowd, there was something profound about that.
But working online and at home has its advantages too. So far I have come across some truly awesome pieces of work from a very talented public. In works that far exceed expectations that have become exemplary. Finding venues, planning times the days have been full from coffee in the morning to making the right bus times.
It is an overall great feeling to be taking what little part I have at the Fringe as a reviewer, and has always been like that. But when you get to Edinburgh for this one the extent of Princess Street being empty of performers of all kinds and any kinds was strange. It didn’t feel depressing but it reminded me of the fragility of the festival. From taking it in the idea of a back bone and skeleton crew has taken on a special meaning like keeping the embers alight to wait for the fire to burn again.
What is the online experience like as a reviewer?
We were half way into the unprecedented national and international lockdown. I was scared of getting too fat so I attempting online work outs and Tai chi and spent some time on my bike cycling through forests in the Kelvin Grove park Glasgow, The adventure continued. I was contacted by my favourite online review company called the Mumble, asking me to cover the 2021 Celtic Connections.
So in this insipid mood my online reviewing journey had commenced, after several online festivals my world was to be expanded, big time. It was a weird difference at a weird time but so far as I can see a new and abundant media was born from it. But many things were the same with great music, passionate performances and a double helping of gratitude that finally some kind of festival had returned to Glasgow in the form of the international connections scene.
I didn’t realise it at the time but the connections online experience was my wheels being oiled for a fascinating year; Even though our freedoms were restricted. I have covered some roughly 4 or 5 online festivals in 2021. There was a magic particularly in the zoom meetings that centred each festival. I took an informal education that kind of crept up on me. I watched so much and wrote so much it wold have been impossible not to come out having learned something, I felt larger, deeper and to a great extent that I was part of something all along.
What have been your favorite shows – online & in person?
My enthusiasm was raised in a different way from being there in person. I say this because being there has the same effect only in a completely different way. I think we all relaxed, performance and audience, to a widening extent very much making lemonade out of lemons. The qualities and levels of writing and performance were no less real and fantastic perhaps even finding new edges for theatre, poetry any kind of performance really.
I was so involved due to the online circumstance to a degree where great joy was around every digital corner. We were all in a state of happiness with gratitude that was woven into proceedings. I found very few problems with it but that was because of the exemplary organisation that were of a different level, I think they simply dove in at the deep end where I was happy to follow.
Not being part of a crowd or audience was obviously the weirdest and strangest of things. I felt like I was in some kind of new position, self reflecting on myself self sitting at the computer. Really it was a kind of out of body experience when I recall my sensations. And that was what it was; a sensation of huge inclusivity, really like connecting with nature herself. an invaluable experience that made movies of everything solo to ensemble.
So Daniel! I hear you’ve started composing poetry alongside your excellent prose – can you show us anything?
Sure, these lines are the fruits of my literary expansion
Open up in the case of love, let leaves move us
Evenings cascade, sweet in the box of summer love
Let dreams drip from you, into a slip stream
And cavalcade for a new announcement
Take care there sweet love
So that thee may broaden the outcast
And treble the frontier
Sweet swift kiss of love
Dance in the moonlight mud
Hold open thou cast of breaches, when walking we…
To clasp the power in your held hand, dip in and swim sound
Freedoms hair, blowin’ made more done
This love can unite everything, take it in
Take care there sweet love
So that thee may broaden the outcast
And treble the frontier
Sweet swift kiss of love
Dance in the moonlight mud
Clothes fall to the floor, and feet caress the ground
The numbers count, to deliver everything
A smile on our mind, as water hit by lights
Can hold us together, we hot friends
Take care there sweet love
So that thee may broaden the outcast
And treble the frontier
Sweet swift kiss of love
Dance in the moonlight flood
Of wisdoms concept, speedy energy
But meant for this, with a wholesome step
The mother of earth, she can wear us
As we without, find ourselves close
As our work shimmers into morning and dusk
So back to reviewing. Can you tell us about your own individual review process – both live & streaming?
In the beginning the review process centred around getting bums on seats, this alone was enough to motivate my creative flows. The idea of theatre has always interested me so in the first days at the Edinburgh Fringe I was excited and really ready to go. It was an Annie Lennox tribute gig and the words started forming in my head of what I would want to write. I’m very thankful that I could just turn up and write with Demo’s words of ‘just write whatever you want’, which also became a slogan for me. Being left to myself was a big plus for me.
I enjoyed it from the word go and fast forward 5 or 6 years I can see my progress and process’s are something I can relish in still with a clear view of how I want to write, finding the right things to talk about, I attend each show well in time, but happily with Theatre prep there’s always a good chance that as a member of the audience we never really know the journey we are about to take.
My love of actors has been increased as I over time delved deeper into their very hard working worlds. It’s important to try and research for every show, I have gladly reviewed a variety of mediums, of theatre and music. In my early orchestra or classical concerts I realized I had a lot to learn but was up for the challenge. figuring out movements, skills, always I have been aware of venues that can be the centre for plays to specific venues.
What advice to you have for anyone reviewing a show?
If you are looking to review I would just say all you need is an opportunity. You are probably already a great writer. When you get that opportunity, relax because you know way more than you think. I have found that preparation has been a wonderful tool to make me expandingly efficient but this may not work for you. Give yourself time to find your own flow, There will be joy there will be heart ache but don’t give up because you could be the next revered reviewer becoming in demand. The the rewards really kick in and there is a tremendous sense of belonging, but if you keep that to yourself you will reach another stage and level for yourself as part of this community.
The Johnny Cash Story
Edinburgh Fringe
theSpace @ Symposium Hall – Garden Theatre
28th Aug, 2021
The sun was out for the final weekend of 2021’s Edinburgh Fringe. This year’s theatre festival was a long time coming series of events. At this venue, theSpace @ Symposium hall – Garden Theatre where ‘the Jonny Cash Story’ was to perform I was looking forward to it. The outdoor music space was a huge marquee with fresh air blowing through the crowd. I had passed it a few times already so I was glad to grab my chance of the experience, as part of the Night Owl Show production company.
We stepped onto the raised platform to take our seats, that had tables and bar service. As our Johnny Cash entrepreneur stepped up greeting us with some Cash style protest dialogue about the unfairness that he saw and took part in defeating. Kicking off the show was a one man vocal and acoustic filled with political defiance and peaceful protest.
Dressed all in black our Johnny had the style of Cash down to a T. His hair freshly oiled to recreate the famous song writer appeal. He was to start to really enjoy himself as front man and welcomed on his band; one electric, one acoustic, one bass and brush and sticks percussion and the famous lyric and vocal.
He joked with us, laughed a lot and had the voice down from loud to slow. It came alive with the Cash styled rock n’ roll/country which stirred the audience into action of their own. With resounding bass booming, rhythmic drumming just the Johnny Cash we know and love, very lively and very heart warming.
They listed their Garden gig as they went down with some less well known songs but hit the lights with classics that have gone down as the rock pop songs they were. The showman was always trying to get the audience moving and trying to involve them which came in stops and starts. As I looked round many people were still with stony faces but I think they were just enjoying the music.
The band came on leaps and bounds with the Johnny Cash power that made him so successful. Writing big songs like ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘When the Man Comes Around’ were at such variants as to offer completely different worlds from just the one man. And in this spirit the sprightly singer grew in stature and after doing Cash’s deep throat American Accent changed events when saying ‘Aye, so I’m from Scotland’! So that’s why he was so likable.
So as the songs went by we clapped, whooped and would have fallen around if we weren’t seated. It picked us up with some pace and some grace. As the energy grew from the band reaching us in a rock n’ roll melt down. Tight as a band and as a Johnny Cash unit, we had lots of fun with our man Johnny Cash telling a story of the life of the man through music and in a short time.
With the black suit, to commemorate suffering, black songs and fun songs like the very funny ‘Boy Named Sue’, hinting at Mr Cash’s sense of humour after so many serious moments in his legendary life. Rock n’ Roll, so great a band and a relaxed and informative performer was pronounced very well at this tribute gig. Outside the fringe if you hear about them, take a mosey on down.
Daniel Donnelly
Brave Face
Edinburgh Fringe
theSpace @ Symposium Hall – Main Theatre
28th Aug, 2021
Brave Face at the 2021 Fringe was another very interesting play about the life of a woman taking on the world in her own way. The plush Lecture Theatre at Symposium Hall was such a great place to take in theatre; perfect for all concerned. The blue leather luxury seating sloped into rows and the stage was never far from our noses. I felt as though in Theatre nudity is an outstanding and favoured way to express something. I’m sure the ancient Greeks would have used it. It all hinges on the take of it.
So when the play began she was lying on the floor covered by a large linen sheet; she sprang out wearing only her panties. Here it is she said, these are tits on stage. I was caught unawares and it worked to my great surprise. Women in the audience took this as a good sign. It was a revealing moment of courage set against a scene she was yet to paint; a fete for the records.
This disturbing drama was entirely created by her, as she played her naked scene she invited us to laugh at the comedy, she was in the hands of the stage that would be her undoing and her success. With her body, naked or clothed, (she slipped on a very attractive red and white and tight dress we knew without a bra,) she leaped from her table, danced very precariously on her table, mixing a little cirque du soleil into the magical mix.
But her dark stories took their turns and resulted in blackouts of fear, and evil distortion. The physical side of things had her working very hard and brought about admiration and worked as part of her plots as much as the dialogue.
She would describe in upsetting detail (why not be upset by this) of sexual encounters that had gone badly wrong, it was good to see and hear this honesty. She stood on her table and ran on the spot to a moving picture on a large screen above her. The art of this came through with clear implications and worked as part of the build up of naked art being performed.
She took to life in other ways with scenes of normality, all from her point of view. Enlarging the play that was full on, yet very gentle and loving at least skin deep. She also took to describing her loves and showed us how it felt to have love made to her, excited and thrilled. She noticed bruises, splitting into the two selves’ one her and the other on screen.
Looking into a mirror with pangs of conscience laid upon her by her lover, friend and tormentor. Stop she told him “Stop” as she simulated the act, “Let me finish” was the response. The act was to unravel with a sweetness that was innocently realised and a smile that would not vanish. It was to bring our attention to the far spreading story of mental and physical abuse perpetrated by men upon woman, all of whom are missing out on the real tides of being together.
It implored us to start to recognise this for a full hour of a greatly created and performed play advancing itself in every way. Just listen, watch to hear and see a meaningful work at play with straight forwardly difficult, energetic manoeuvres, heartrending show of strength and of someone ready to do battle. In a raw show coming from experience explained to be brutal and sadly enhanced
act of female chivalry in sex to the act of doing it.
Well charged dialogue, dancing, enacting play with ever so careful plots to make sure we didn’t leave without an assured sense that someone cares and loves us, especially of this common circumstance. Well worth a visit out side he fringe as well, congrats, what a Brave Face, indeed.
Daniel Donnelly
Mumble Theatre 