Written by Marie
Jones
Directed by Chris
Bendall
A Critical Stages
production
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to March 25
Review by Len Power
23 March 2017
‘Stones In His Pockets’ by Marie Jones has been around since
1994. It played successfully in London’s
West End for three years and had a 198 performance run on Broadway in 2001 as
well as productions in Australia. With
the success of similar plays like ‘The 39 Steps’ and ‘Peter And The Star Catcher’
in recent years, it’s not surprising that it’s back again.
The play tells a story of a quiet Irish community dealing
with the impact of a Hollywood movie shoot in their town. Working as extras on the film, two local lads
find themselves involved with the Hollywood star and a director who has his own
ideas of genuine Irish local colour. How
the various people involved react to a tragedy that occurs adds a serious note
to the show.
The fifteen characters in the play are all played by two
actors, Grant Cartwright and Sean Hawkins.
Playing everything from the two local lads employed as extras to the female
Hollywood star and various members of the film crew and other folk who live in
the town, the actors give excellent performances with nicely drawn character
work as well as genuine-sounding accents.
They handle high speed changes adeptly and have a great sense of timing for
the humorous aspects of the script.
The set, designed by Dann Barber, is attractive and
functional and the lighting design by Alexander Berlage is excellent. Full marks, too, to the lighting operators at
the Q. The lighting cues come thick and
fast and were accurately done. Costume
design by Michael Hill was imaginative with effective suggestions of costume
for some characters working very well.
Sound design by Nate Edmondson added a fine atmosphere to the show.
Director, Chris Bendall, has staged the show very well,
keeping it moving at a frenetic pace and giving the actors clever and
imaginative ways to make their fast changes.
His work with the actors has ensured that the characters are clearly
delineated, an essential requirement for this show.
The main interest in a show like this is in watching how the
actors perform it. As a result it’s not
easy to feel any real involvement in the story.
The show works best when it’s being funny. When the tragedy occurs during the show it
doesn’t have the impact it might have had in a straightforward telling. Nevertheless, the audience clearly had a good
time watching this and the performances of these two strong actors are very
enjoyable.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Artcetera’ program (9am Saturdays) and
‘Dress Circle’ (3.30pm Mondays).
