‘Quartet’ by Ronald Harwoodr
Directed by Dave Goodall
Playing Dates: 28th April -
Cast
Reginald Padget David Pugh
Cecily Robson Wendy Hall
Wilfred Bond Eric Beckley
Jean Horton Maggy Goodall
Cissy, Wilf and Reg are in a home for retired opera singers. Each year, on 10th October there is a concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday. Jean who used to be married to Reg, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva and refuses to sing. But the show must go on...
By turns funny and poignant this is another excellent play from the author of ‘The Dresser’
Phoebe Rees Adjudication
Friday 1st May 2009
Friday 1st May 2009
The Play:
This bittersweet comedy is about a quartet of retired opera singers and the "Quartet" from Verdi's Rigoletto that marked a highlight of their long ago and mostly forgotten careers.
Inspired by Verdi, who bequeathed a house in Milan as a home for ex-opera singers, we meet four of the residents, Cissy (Wendy Hall), Reg (David Pugh), Wilf (Eric Beckley) and Jean (Maggie Goodall) with connected pasts and possibly a future as the opportunity to perform together again for one last ‘gala’ performance arises, the collective minds willing, the vocal chords less so.
Presentation:
Your set had a convincing sense of place and detail. There were some lovely touches, the relevant books such as Stagecraft on the bookshelf, the imposing lights leading into the garden area, the framed posters of operas performed and busts of composers all created the right atmosphere, looking just enough down at heel enough to be believable. I liked the attention to detail with such things as the fire door sign and I thought your grand piano was well constructed!! The play does not call for any grand lighting design but the your lighting provided good light to the stage and actors at all times and was bright - even to suggest that there may have been a slight ray of hope in the diminished but not yet finished lives of the residents. In the final analysis, however, Quartet doesn't tug forcefully enough at the heartstrings to fully convey the power of its theme -- the celebration of the human spirit. Its plot is, to put it mildly, a little thin and predictable.
Your music cues were all on time. I did wonder about the choice of opening music (from ‘One Foot in the Grave’,) whilst I could see where you were coming from and what you were trying to portray, for me it would have been better to have used something less recognisable than this piece, especially as I thought all the other music used during the performance was well chosen and appropriate.
The costumes for the final scene were excellent and those that were not worn provided excellent properties for the ‘business’ of this scene. I had hoped to see Jean and Cissy dressed in a slightly more colourful ‘divaesque’ style and think you missed an opportunity in particular to give a bit more weight and emphasis to Cissy’s eccentricity in the use of her costume as it was she looked pleasant, but ordinary.
The make up for Wilf in the final scene was excellent and I thought that you all handled this scene remarkably well with all the business it entails. It is difficult enough to make some one else up and even more so on stage. I would have liked to have seen a little more ‘stage make up’ at this point for both Cissy and Jean which would have made a greater emphasis for the grande finale.
One final comment, I wondered why you felt it necessary to put a note in the programme about lines being a real challenge. I thought this was a shame as it gave me the impression that the cast were not comfortable with their lines and I looked and waited for them to stumble. I would not have done this if it had not been brought to my attention that they might.
The Production:
Overall a good production, that showed some really good direction, particularly in the later scenes. You did well to encourage the pathos and the humour from your cast by and the relationship between all four actors was good and showed some excellent teamwork.
There was quite a long scene change between Act 11 and 111 and I wondered if you had considered using stage crew dressed as staff of the home to change the scene, which would have alleviated the long wait. However there may have been reasons why you were unable to do this of which I was not aware.
I do think that the final scene ‘the performance’ is a little too long and would benefit from cutting or perhaps you could have encouraged your actors to have made more of it!! It was at this point that they really needed to step out, raise the bar and allow us to see what had made them first-rate stars. I was really looking forward to how you would handle this scene and whilst it was admirably performed, lips always in synch with the words and never seeming to falter on the Italian (and I presume you are not all speakers of the language so this in itself was a major achievement) the miming worked really well, the more confident you became, I wanted this scene to be unforgettable and sat in the audience willing you to stretch it and yourselves to the limit. Sadly for me you did not quite achieve this and did not quite hit the high note! I would have liked to have seen heaving bosoms and vying for one last chance at being the star rather than the ‘quiet performance’ you gave.
Acting:
Obviously all four of you are competent and able actors who could project your voices well, I had to sit in the back row and am pleased to say I could hear every word.
Cissy (Wendy Hall)
Overall this was a gentle, good-natured performance of this ‘away with the fairies’ character and you gave a good, solid interpretation of the role complete with the lunge across the stage to view the topless gardener. I really liked the way you mimed to your music and were completely oblivious to that which was going on around you, including Wilf’s risqué comments. You made her a very endearing character to watch.
Reg (David Pugh)
There was some excellent teamwork between you and Wilf, making the most of the dialogue both between you and in your long speeches. I admired the way you were able to sit very still and portray being so hurt about your failed marriage to Jean during her first scene. You were always beautifully ponderous until you spied the dreaded Angelique who has given you apricot jam for breakfast every morning instead of lime marmalade, when your character switched completely and was very funny. A dignified portrayal of this character.
Wilf (Eric Beckley)
I felt that any place inhabited by Wilf would be fun to be. Here was a randy old extrovert. A realist raging against the aging process, determined not to go gently into that good night but rather to rage against it. You were funny and fluent and very much the motor of the play. You played this role really well and I enjoyed your performance, even though I did not particularly like the part itself. I thought you handled the many innuendoes extremely well and brought just the right balance between pathos and humour that the part required.
Jean (Maggie Goodall)
Embittered, egocentric Jean finds the motto "No self pity" hard to live up to – is she going to be a thorn in the sides of her fellow residents? and will she join them in their concert to celebrate Guiseppe Verdi's birthday? You really did your best with the least sympathetic part but I somehow felt that you occasionally lost the required grandeur of a grande diva and a very minor point but thought you might have had a much more outrageous stick to walk with, which by the way you did really well. I really believed you were waiting for that hip op.
Conclusion:
It is a very personal view but for me this is one of Harwood’s weaker plays and doesn’t tug forcefully enough at your heartstrings to fully convey the power of its theme -- the celebration of the human spirit. Its plot is somewhat slight and predictable. However your audience,
Inspired by Verdi, who bequeathed a house in Milan as a home for ex-
Presentation:
Your set had a convincing sense of place and detail. There were some lovely touches, the relevant books such as Stagecraft on the bookshelf, the imposing lights leading into the garden area, the framed posters of operas performed and busts of composers all created the right atmosphere, looking just enough down at heel enough to be believable. I liked the attention to detail with such things as the fire door sign and I thought your grand piano was well constructed!! The play does not call for any grand lighting design but the your lighting provided good light to the stage and actors at all times and was bright -
Your music cues were all on time. I did wonder about the choice of opening music (from ‘One Foot in the Grave’,) whilst I could see where you were coming from and what you were trying to portray, for me it would have been better to have used something less recognisable than this piece, especially as I thought all the other music used during the performance was well chosen and appropriate.
The costumes for the final scene were excellent and those that were not worn provided excellent properties for the ‘business’ of this scene. I had hoped to see Jean and Cissy dressed in a slightly more colourful ‘divaesque’ style and think you missed an opportunity in particular to give a bit more weight and emphasis to Cissy’s eccentricity in the use of her costume as it was she looked pleasant, but ordinary.
The make up for Wilf in the final scene was excellent and I thought that you all handled this scene remarkably well with all the business it entails. It is difficult enough to make some one else up and even more so on stage. I would have liked to have seen a little more ‘stage make up’ at this point for both Cissy and Jean which would have made a greater emphasis for the grande finale.
One final comment, I wondered why you felt it necessary to put a note in the programme about lines being a real challenge. I thought this was a shame as it gave me the impression that the cast were not comfortable with their lines and I looked and waited for them to stumble. I would not have done this if it had not been brought to my attention that they might.
The Production:
Overall a good production, that showed some really good direction, particularly in the later scenes. You did well to encourage the pathos and the humour from your cast by and the relationship between all four actors was good and showed some excellent teamwork.
There was quite a long scene change between Act 11 and 111 and I wondered if you had considered using stage crew dressed as staff of the home to change the scene, which would have alleviated the long wait. However there may have been reasons why you were unable to do this of which I was not aware.
I do think that the final scene ‘the performance’ is a little too long and would benefit from cutting or perhaps you could have encouraged your actors to have made more of it!! It was at this point that they really needed to step out, raise the bar and allow us to see what had made them first-
Acting:
Obviously all four of you are competent and able actors who could project your voices well, I had to sit in the back row and am pleased to say I could hear every word.
Cissy (Wendy Hall)
Overall this was a gentle, good-
Reg (David Pugh)
There was some excellent teamwork between you and Wilf, making the most of the dialogue both between you and in your long speeches. I admired the way you were able to sit very still and portray being so hurt about your failed marriage to Jean during her first scene. You were always beautifully ponderous until you spied the dreaded Angelique who has given you apricot jam for breakfast every morning instead of lime marmalade, when your character switched completely and was very funny. A dignified portrayal of this character.
Wilf (Eric Beckley)
I felt that any place inhabited by Wilf would be fun to be. Here was a randy old extrovert. A realist raging against the aging process, determined not to go gently into that good night but rather to rage against it. You were funny and fluent and very much the motor of the play. You played this role really well and I enjoyed your performance, even though I did not particularly like the part itself. I thought you handled the many innuendoes extremely well and brought just the right balance between pathos and humour that the part required.
Jean (Maggie Goodall)
Embittered, egocentric Jean finds the motto "No self pity" hard to live up to – is she going to be a thorn in the sides of her fellow residents? and will she join them in their concert to celebrate Guiseppe Verdi's birthday? You really did your best with the least sympathetic part but I somehow felt that you occasionally lost the required grandeur of a grande diva and a very minor point but thought you might have had a much more outrageous stick to walk with, which by the way you did really well. I really believed you were waiting for that hip op.
Conclusion:
It is a very personal view but for me this is one of Harwood’s weaker plays and doesn’t tug forcefully enough at your heartstrings to fully convey the power of its theme -