Dolce Via (Salford)

Dolce Via is the latest offering from Take The Space Theatre Company, formed in 2005, in association with the well regarded Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guilford. Despite great hopes, it proved hugely disappointing experience.

The Great Tourrinos were a variety double act and happily married couple until tragedy ripped them apart and changed the course of their lives. Years later they reunite for one evening where they relive the lost magic of their act and face up to their past demons.

The premise has real potential and, on the whole, works as a story. However, it is told in a hugely disjointed manner skipping back and to from the past to the present and dipping in and out of the performance within the performance too often and too quickly. It is sometimes quite hard to keep up.

Despite the use of audience participation and several magic tricks/illusions being performed the piece never manages to come to life and most of these golden opportunities for entertainment are not maximised to their full potential. In fact, one mind reading illusion is abandoned before it is complete and infuriatingly remains unresolved to the bitter end.

Writer Siobhan Nicholas also stars as Grainne, the instigator of the reunion. She is not an engaging performer and her performance is dreadfully one dimensional with a significant lack of emotional range. It’s hard to believe that she could ever have been part of a top of the bill double act.  

As her estranged husband Chris Barnes fares a little better and certainly engages with the audience more successfully.

The direction by John Ramm can only be faulted due to the slow pace of the piece but he puts the simple but effective set by Gus Munro to good use and ensures the performers use the whole space available to them.

“We’re here to entertain you, to mystify and amaze you!” shrieks Grainne half way through. It’s a shame, but Dolce Via, in its present form and with its present cast, doesn’t come close. 

– Malcolm Wallace