"Miles/Eurydice" by West Bridgford Dramatic Society.
The Studio, West Bridgford.
This is the last production of the 2022/2023 Season for the award winning WBDS - West Bridgford Dramatic Society, and you get two for the price of one again.
The first part is a short monologue called "Miles" by Ella Hickson and has several comparisons with "Eurydice" which is why it was chosen to be performed prior to the main event.
Directed by Amanda Pearce in her Directorial debut; Calum Sharp gets the stage and the spotlight to himself for this monologue. Miles is an American man, a stock broker in his mid-twenties and a survivor of the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. This incident allows him to live another life. Calum's story telling is wonderful and draws you in, but I was slightly confused by the accent.
"Eurydice" which has been adapted by Sarah Ruhl tells the story of "Orpheus In the Underworld" from the perspective of Eurydice, Orpheus' wife. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. For anyone who knows the story of Orpheus, there is a twist that has been inserted by Ruhl at the end, and I think that I can guarantee a slightly different script ending at every sitting.
I really enjoyed this play, and like "Miles", the story telling is hypnotic and all enveloping. There is puppetry, an inventive creation for a room, and a wonderful soundscape that adds drama to the story.
Emily Martin plays Eurydice who, on her wedding day, meets a very strange man who has a letter for Eurydice from her late Father.
Playing Orpheus is Dom Gaskell. There's a really nice, almost innocent connection between the two characters; I was going to say lovers but, playful as they are, the innocence overtakes any hint of past intimacy. Without seeing the act that Orpheus carries out at the end, we know what he did in order to recouple with his late wife!
Asta Knight plays Little Stone, and makes her debut with WBDS. Big Stone is played by Katie Minns and Jacky Tivers, who we normally see in the Box Office at The Studio Theatre, plays Loud Stone. These stones are real fun figures and do the bidding of the Lord Of the Underworld. And when you know the roles, the costumes also make sense.
Nik Hedges is a name that will be well known by patrons of the Nottingham Lace Market Theatre, and in this play, he makes his WBDS debut as both a rather creepy Man who has nothing but desire, nay lust, for the new bride, well he is The Lord Of The Underworld in disguise, and Child, although is very unchild like! This is where the puppetry comes into play but the unsettling voice from the child is all Nik's. Both parts equally unnerving!
Robert Dixon plays Father, who welcomes Eurydice into the Underworld and starts to teach her the ways of the land. He allows her wish to return to Orpheus but this is when the twist appears. Is this twist too much for Father to take?
Directed by Malcolm Todd, assisted by Dom Gaskell, they ensure that the characters deliver and the story trundles along at a really good pace. It's always a good sign when the ending comes a lot quicker that you thought it would, due to the cerebral investment the audience member has with the story and cast. And of course, the sheer enjoyment of the story and production.
The Set Design is also by Malcolm Todd. Full marks for the clever construction of Eurydice's room by Father.
The Sound Design for this play, by Arran Mackay, is very interesting, and is as rich and almost as physical as it is interesting to aurally experience. From Ludovico Einaudi, Mozart and Mendelssohn through to the Electric Light Orchestra, Glenn Miller and The Carpenters.
Jerome Foley's Lighting Design, which he also operates, is excellent and is, at times very dramatic, all adding to the overall effect.
All of the costumes and props have been sourced by Jan Dizon.
This production deserves a bigger audience than the one on opening night. It may be based on Greek tragedy, but tragedy it certainly isn't. Entertaining and very different, as it's quite rare for a play like this to be performed locally, and so well. Don't miss out!
"Miles"/"Eurydice" will be at The Studio theatre until Saturday 15 July.
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