Once A Catholicby Mary O’Malley4th, 5th & 6th July 2002in The Curzon Centre, BeaconsfieldHome Reviews What the Press said … |
Life goes on after Catholic schoolThere was
something for everyone in Mary O’Malley’s play Once A
Catholic, including religion, sex, dogma, teenage angst
and youthful rebellion. The Young Theatre under Cindy
Lindy’s perceptive direction managed to blend the full
gamut of adolescent emotions with great skill to produce
a highly entertaining evening …
… The nuns,
convincingly depicted by Niki Matthews, Nicky Anderson
and Caitlin Bennet were not played simply for laughs.
These were intelligent, committed and pious women … [and]
Father Mullarky (Jamie Ivens) and Mr. Emanuelli (Peter
Dixon) used the humour of their situations to set up the
comedy rather than be at the centre of it …
Although all the
students have identical Christian names (Mary, what else?)
their diverse personalities provide the richest vein of
humour particularly in the way in which the nuns
misunderstand their naive questions about love, sex and
anatomy.
The love interest
(or the source’s sexual curiosity) convincingly played by
teddy-boy Derek (Phil Macken) and the wordly-wise
Cuthbert (Michael Ivens) produced some of the best laughs
of the evening.
Fine ensemble acting,
particularly by all the Marys, created a well-paced
production … an enthusiastic audience clearly felt
they’d had a rewarding and accomplished evening’s
entertainment.
Phillip Sheahan : Bucks Advertiser |
School for ComedyWere these young people up to the challenge of performing
this hilariously written play? Yes, they were and they
gave us a mature and confident performance.
The
set was simple but effective with "hidden surprises"
and … was very well supported by the costume and
technical team …
Mother
Peter (Niki Matthews), Mother Basil (Nicky Anderson) and
Mother Thomas Acquinas (Caitlin Bennett) … all gave
lovely performances. The scene when Mother Basil talks at
quadruple speed was excellently delivered. The most
outstanding performance has to be Father Mullarky (Jamie
Ivens). His accent, facial expressions and timing were
impeccable throughout. The girls resonded well to his
desk thumping, all reacting in unison and all remaining
in character throughout the sermons as they faced the
audience …
… This was a most enjoyable
evening finished off with a lovely finale - what fun.
Congratulations everyone.
Chris Quelch : Bucks Free Press |
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