Post by joem on Jun 9, 2018 0:23:49 GMT
Set in Brighton in the Winter of Discontent (1978/79) this is a sharp black comedy about a group of grifters - loosely allied but mostly friends - who meet in a café kept by a jealous Italian immigrant father Ric (the wonderfully-named Ivanhoe Norona) and his attractive aspirational daughter Concetta (Madalina Bellariu).
The three grifters; the older Arthur (Michael Roberts), the glib Gabe (Ross Boatmen) and the wise-cracking Stan (Charlie Allen) exchange information, spar verbally, weave plans and have a general moan about the deteriorating situation in the country and the impending Sales Act which will outlaw their dodgy sales pitches and rib Gabe's young wannabe nephew Winkle (Lewis Bruniges). Interspersing the main story with an unlikely romance between Gabe and Concetta, and a hare-brained scheme by Winkle and his mate Toe-Rag (Harold Addo in full seventies Afro wig) to get themselves rich and respected this is a lively evening with plenty of good acting and some pithy dialogue, especially in the rapid-fire scenes which frame the play where each character is speaking
Excellent staging and props which get you immediately into the era being depicted and smart scene-changes, especially in the second act where the action alternates fairly seamlessly between the café and the house being burgled.
Simon David Eden, who also directs, is to be congratulated for an interesting and entertaining piece. It could be tighter in parts but this is a quibble. Good work.
The three grifters; the older Arthur (Michael Roberts), the glib Gabe (Ross Boatmen) and the wise-cracking Stan (Charlie Allen) exchange information, spar verbally, weave plans and have a general moan about the deteriorating situation in the country and the impending Sales Act which will outlaw their dodgy sales pitches and rib Gabe's young wannabe nephew Winkle (Lewis Bruniges). Interspersing the main story with an unlikely romance between Gabe and Concetta, and a hare-brained scheme by Winkle and his mate Toe-Rag (Harold Addo in full seventies Afro wig) to get themselves rich and respected this is a lively evening with plenty of good acting and some pithy dialogue, especially in the rapid-fire scenes which frame the play where each character is speaking
Excellent staging and props which get you immediately into the era being depicted and smart scene-changes, especially in the second act where the action alternates fairly seamlessly between the café and the house being burgled.
Simon David Eden, who also directs, is to be congratulated for an interesting and entertaining piece. It could be tighter in parts but this is a quibble. Good work.