Review – The Glee Club
Venue: Library Theatre
Date Reviewed: 24th September, 2008
The Glee Club opens in darkness as a group of male voices start to sing the old standard “Side by Side.” The song immediately evokes an earlier period and, as the lights come up, the sight of six men in the back room of a working-men’s club, in shirts and ties and with neatly side-parted hair, takes us back to the early 1960s and to a much simpler time.
It was, however, a decade on the cusp of upheaval and change. Richard Cameron‘s heart warming play, takes place in a South Yorkshire mining town in the summer of 1962.
We follow the lives of six miners who are all part of a singing group. One Summer their lives are affected by the encroachment of the modern world on a town still inhabiting a world of post-war austerity and traditional moral values.
The ensemble cast comprises of just six male actors who hold the stage with confidence and conviction, even during a shower scene whereby they are naked. But there is so much more to this play, as these gifted actors shed so much more than their clothes, as they bring so much light and shade to their roles and as a result, are utterly believable.
This talented team make the production feel much larger than it is by populating their world with off-stage wives, girlfriends, children and mothers, all of whom are given convincing lives of their own.
Philip Cox is notable as Bantam, a man who lives up to his name with his strutting and crowing, imbuing his role with such aggression, that it makes his comic scenes funnier and the pathos more heatrbreaking. Likewise, Robert Emms, as Colin Wrigglesworth, also does well with the added role of narrator. That said, none of the actors give a bad performance, and the result is a play which is comical, yet touching, carrying the audience right to the last note of the final song.
The Library‘s small stage is used ingeniously, with a sliding wall providing a neat guise for scene changes, and two rotating sets acting as the back room of the club and the showers at the mine as well as outside locations. In and around this moving scenery, Roger Haines‘ direction makes excellent use of sets, props and actors to create a captivating production.
This combination of catchy songs and truly engrossing storylines delivered by an immensely talented groups of actors makes for an oustanding piece of theatre.
The Glee Club is playing until the 18th of October and I would advise everyone to go and see it.
You will not regret it!
-Calum Kerr
October 9th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I wholeheartedly agree this was a totally enjoyable play! It was very well acted by six talented people. They captivated and endeared the audience with their individual storylines. It was interesting to see friendships/relationships from a male point of view. I went on the opening night and each character performance was spot on!! The singing was most enjoyable too. Well done to all concerned! A great night out!!