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Show: The Rink
Society: Renaissance Theatre Company
Venue: St Mary In The Castle
Credits: Kander & Ebb
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 25/06/2022
The Rink
Photo: Peter Mould
It is known locally and in amateur theatre circles that this company was founded to raise money for charities; St Michael’s hospice and the Sparkle trust in memory of two ladies, Sharon and Sandra. both local performers.
This show is perhaps marginally less known than others by Kander & Ebb whose music and lyrics for Cabaret and Chicago both on stage and in film versions have overshadowed their other works.
The show was marred by the sad death of director/producer Mark Evans earlier in the year. The show has already been postponed due to Covid. Where there is a will there is a show it seems and the company rallied to ensure this would be their comeback, although a successful concert was staged this year at the Stables Theatre.
Special flooring has been laid to facilitate the right surface for the roller skating and this show is presented arena style with a background set of staging. lights, glitter balls and the fine band behind a curtain at the back.
It is a simple story really but none the less for that. An American roller skating rink is being `wound up` along with the fairground it is part of . A daughter, Angel (Ruth Parsons) returns home unannounced for a reunion with her mother Anna (Kim Sutton). The friction and resurfacing past hurt is immediate and the reunion seems doomed. That the right combination of performers is essential to these roles and his is realised in every scene and exchange. Ebb & Kander dialogue, captures the, fast, loud, bickering style of conversation, familiar from film and television. At first I was momentarily dismayed at the volume as the radio microphones were used throughout eg: not just for the songs, rather than the actors projecting but quickly saw this was very effective as it gave a real dynamic to the sound as the action was set in the cavernous rink , being dismantled so the sound was appropriate in the high round space of St Mary`s. The score was effective with the organ sound interludes, you imagined the skaters moving around too.
Ruth Parsons has a powerful voice. ideal for this role and opened strongly with Coloured Lights ,singing clearly and well in the quieter moments and with great control on sustained notes. the more strident delivery ideal for this role within the musical theatre genre. The same could be said of Kim Sutton in her central role, unlucky in love and parenting and now a business is ending, one which she never really hoped for , it being passed to her and her partner by his father. Ebb & Kander never seem to have stock characters to bring the music to life. Their participants would equally be at home in a play version. Oft is seems they write particularly for women, who from bitter experience of love and life are defensive with a hard edge. This is personified in Anna’s no holds barred song Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. The song I was looking forward to hearing and remembered proved a highlight, opening act 2, where mother and daughter socialise and drink and sing the memorable The Apple Doesn’t Fall From The Tree being an allusion to the daughter.
Part of the story is told in retro/flashback relating in particular to Anna’s husband, Dino. I had no memory of a song of his which I liked very much Blue Crystal a song of a special gift he presented of crystal classes and these have been retained but may be disposed of along with all the fittings and memories. Dino was quietly played by an actor, new to me, Christopher Lavender, always good to see new performers especially singers. He has a mellow. warm tone and in this reflective song this was ideal. He doubled as Guy.
Good to see Michael Woodhams back in the company as Ben ( the crew) and Dino’s father, his distinctive voice adding to the vocal success.
It seems a lot of productions are enhanced with the participation on or off stage by the multi talented Oscar Smith, fresh from a fine appearance in local premier (at the Stables Theatre) of Here At Last Is Love here he doubles as a crew member and a would be suitor, Lenny, to Anna, scoring strongly and if anything singing in almost quietly, to a degree, understated singing, which was right for Marry Me.
Benjamin Hitchcock is another new performer to me and he makes an impressive appearance doubling as Buddy and Perillo. Anna tries to matchmake Buddy with Angel as he is the good looking boy whom she likes but he is quite shallow and insulting and immature about Anna so it never goes beyond the initial contact. `Was it ever thus` that the glamorous wrapper can mask disappointing contents.
Little Girl is well played by young Lacey Reeves on skates and in the final scene as Angel’s daughter also called Anna, in a sassy assertion to her mother and first meeting with her grandmother.
Keeping music live is another joy of local shows and Musical Director and trumpeter, Andy Gill, brings this varied score to life beautifully with musicians, Judy Gilham, Debbie Warren, Trevor Shedrake, James Cruttenden and Howard Gill.
The men participate as the crew who are there to clear the rink. They drink and exchange banter. The aforementioned plus Craig Gibbons and Luke Baxter form the crew. The men of this crew, singing, acting , dancing and add some amusing female impersonations, more of the ilk of Les Dawson & Roy Barraclough (Ada & Cissie) than the drag variety. Benjamin Hitchcock wells supported by Luke Baxter, excelled in this song sequence. I almost missed at the back, a hilarious awkward back row `date` between Christopher Lavender and Oscar Smith in gown and his own flowing locks.
Our spirits soared as the crew hit the heights with the title song The Rink in a brillant, heart pumping sequence, singing with verve and filling the stage in a flowing sequence on roller skates, yes really. We were treated to a brief encore and deservedly so.
The show was clearly thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, the applause lingering as the lights came up. Congratulations to all concerned. A very informative and comprehensive programme was welcome with biographies of composers, performers, photographs and information on the society. ( A small detail would be to add the names of the characters who sang each song) . After such a full performance inevitably not all is remembered.
A wonderful production in the show-will-go-on tradition. Well done to the late Mark Evans, a fitting farewell. Also to Kim Sutton (ass. producer), associate directors, David Sismore, Jessica Sutton (choreographer) assisted by Guy Pollard and last but by no ,means least the great lighting designer, Jonathan Richardson.