‘IT'S ABOUT TRANSITION - AND THE BITTERNESS THAT COMES WITH THAT'
Con inen al Brech fest
Don’t mention the Brecht: Steve Cramer talks to David Soul, John Hodge and Janie Dee about the new revival of musical MACK AND MABEL.
rccht. Wait. don't turn the page. I know you're
thinking worthy museum pieces and moralism
just now. but there‘s a lot more to it than that. The totality ol' the theatre. which can only he e\pressed beyond what you‘ll see on the box by actors tising all the resources at their disposal music. moycmcnt. lighting. pure and direct storytelling and acting was neyer hetter expressed.
'l‘herc's plenty ol' politics in Brecht. but also plenty ol‘ ahsolute theatre. which might have been beaten out ol
us by the odd oyer-reyerent rep production. In lact.
we see it all the time in the commercial sector of
theatre. We're jtist not told it‘s Brecht ('andor and lihh produced some ol‘ the most successl'ul musicals ol' all time with the great man‘s narrative l‘raming. 'l‘hcy jtist didn't tell you.
'l‘lius it is that David Soul. leaning hack in a shahhy armchair. notes my empty packet and crashes me a lag outside the spartan north London rehearsal room where he and an astonishingly youthl'ul cast haye just taken the press through a couple of de\terotIsly perl‘ormed numhers ol‘ .llue/t um! Ila/rel. a musical that looks like linding its feet alter a chequered 30- year history with the reyiy il‘ying techniques ol‘ director John Hodge. Zlohn‘s inl'luence is a real Brechtian approach to the play. Btit il‘ I said that with a marketing person here. they ’d say. “Don‘t say that!”
The l'ormer star ol~ .S'Iursky and [lute/i. most recently seen in Jerry syn-meek The Opera. is happy enough with this. lirom his days as a campaigning political actiyist at the height ol' his lame through to his more recent campaign for Martin Bell as an independent MP. and all the way hack to his days as a young actor with .\'ew York‘s (‘ale la Mamma. the radical political
company in the His. Soul has often seemed happiest
with work that puts lire in audience's hellies. l.ater l‘d talk to director .lohn Hodge. recently the toast ol'
Broadway with Sweeney Tilt/(l. who admits to the influence. but ruel'ully adds. ‘lt is Brechtian. exactly that. But the term tends to bring up ideas that Brecht didn‘t express at all. so I‘m a little wary ol' the word it alienates people. it makes people al'raid. ll’ you don’t know that‘s what it is. you jttst enjoy it.‘
.lerry llcrman‘s tale of the tempestuous lo\c al'l'air between silent moxie king Mack Sennett and leading lady Mahel Normand. incorporating murder. drugs and much sensation. is more than just political. though. It‘s a loye story. which is set against. and intercuts with. the changing times ol modernism. when silent lilms were superceded by the talkies. ‘lt‘s a loye story. or a kind of reyersc loye story. hut it’s also about change and transition. and the hitterness that comes with that. When silent moyies died otit. he was just dumped.’ says Soul.
But this piece. as ()liyier Award winner .lanie l)ee. Soul's .‘ylahel. points otit. calls on l‘undamental human emotions in its audience. and the l‘amiliar resonances of youth. ‘She's pretty streetwise. and she gets his number pretty early on. Btit she thinks she can change him. as you do when you‘re young. So she thinks. “I‘ll giye him a hit of this and a hit of that. I'll be naughty with him. but I‘ll turn him on like no other woman." But the wrong thing is said and misunderstood at the wrong time and it gets lucked tip as things do.‘ .-\II this and Brecht too.
King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 6—Sat 1 1 Feb, then touring.
Theatre
Hit
THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
# Tartufle Tony Cownie's witty and splendidly engaging production of Liz Lochhead's Scots rendering of Moliere's classic comedy has both power and humour in good measure. Outstanding performances from the cast in this tale of hypocrisy and religious charlatanism are the icing on the cake. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 77 Feb.
# The Matinee Idle Daniel Jackson's accomplished comic debut looks like an agreeable hour at Oran Mor. Directed by Liz Lochhead. this piece tinds humour in the lives of two ushers at a Glasgow theatre. Oran Mor. Glasgow, Mon 6—Sat 71 Feb.
* Mack and Mabel David Soul and Janie Dee lead in Jerry Herman's musical account of the turbulent relationship between Mack Sennett. the silent movie king, and screen goddess Mabel Normand. John Hodge's production looks set to bring a vitality to the piece that excels previous productions. King's Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 6—Sat 17 Feb, then touring.
* Edward Scissorhands Matthew Bourne's adaptations from film to dance are the stuff of dreams, it his version of Losey's The Servant is anything to go by. Visual splendour and innovative movement look like the order of the day. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 7—88! 11 Feb, then touring.
# Romeo and Juliet Gregory Thompson '3 production is set to impress. after a triumph with Molly Sweeney before Christmas. Iain Robertson. currently appearing in television’s Sea of Souls _ leads as the love-struck youth. Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, in repertory, Wed 8 Feb- Sat 4 Mar.
' THE LIST 79