GOING FOR GOLD/BERTIE BEAR’S ALL
At the Nomad Theatre, East Horsley 24th/25th July 2010
Two for the price of one!
Last week the Nomad Theatre acclaimed not one, but two, fine shows to triumphantly complete, a packed week, during which the cast of over thirty with joyful participation, entertained large audiences at the culmination of Play in a Week. This year’s show was one of hundreds of events taking place to provide the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games
This is the 12th year in which the Nomads have presented a show-and every year, under the dedicated direction of Brandon McGuire, it gets better. Performers from many local groups including Seeability, The Grange Centre and the Freewheelers, demonstrated what disabled people can, untrammelled, achieve when they are really “Let Loose”, in these days when technology provides so many more opportunities for original presentation.
Starting at 10 am on the Monday, the Theatre became, day and night, a scene of apparent confusion with set-building, making of properties, lighting, filming, singing, dancing and acting rehearsals taking place at so many venues (and thanks for the sunshine which enabled cast and helpers to cool off outside on occasion). By Friday afternoon, the first run-through somehow took place and, by Saturday and Sunday, Going for Gold was ready for the audience.
All the ideas for the script were put forward by the cast in advance and, with one eye on 2012, the theme decided upon was the London Paralympics with four teams, the Freelands (green), Sunistans (yellow), Azura (blue) and Redskia (red, of course), joining in friendly (well, for the most part, friendly – there was a fair amount of skulduggery going on not only among the athletes but the very shady Hot Dog Salesmen (Julian Pindar and David Hatton) who were out to steal the Gold Cup. This nefarious activity being brilliantly thwarted by a timely arrow pinning them to the wall.
“Free bun with every dog”!
All the original songs were written during the week by Musical Director, Jay Bristow, and learned and performed during the week. Andrea Green returned as Choreographer and showed her expertise by choosing and teaching routines well within the capabilities of the cast. Once again, professional writer. Anita Sullivan, produced a slick, pacy script.
The special effects, including the Olympic Flame, lighted arrows traversing the stage and various missiles propelled round the stage (and audience) by skilled operators, contributed excitement and originality to the whole production.
The sports illustrated were Boccia (a type of bowls for wheelchair inhabitants), the competitors for which were advised by Matthew James, who has played for England, Adaptive Rowing, with superb synchronisation from the Azura team, Dressage where, disgracefully, two of the “horses” had to be disqualified, and Goalball, where the ball, containing a bell, is propelled by athletes who, even if they are actually sighted have to wear blackout masks to level everything. Even the audience actively participated in this event “tipping the ball over the bar”. All these sports are actual Paralympic events.
The whole audience played enthusiastic parts, joyfully waving their coloured flags and singing the team anthems to support their own teams. At the end, it was impossible to decide who had enjoyed themselves most – cast or spectators.
If you look up the website: www.nomadtheatre.com/let-loose-play-in-a-week you can see the film of the rehearsals and performances which will give you a taste of the tremendous entertainment provided by organiser, Sarah Thomas, and her splendid team of about 50 Nomad members and other volunteers who provided food, transport, support and encouragement for all the actors, among whom Jamie Bensted, with his fine singing voice, Oliver Forsyth, as a very rakish reporter, Andrew Marber as the Mayor, giving out the gold medals, (in his twelfth year!) and Nathan Farrell , who provided some wonderful adlibs at moments of crisis, stood out.
As a curtain raiser, the Freewheelers presented a short, magical film in which Jamie Bensted, Andrew Marber and Andrew Nelson performed an interview with enormous skill and effect. This is an extract from their moving new play, ‘Bertie Bears All’. See www.freewheelerstheatre,co.uk for further details of this excellent organisation.
Pity the poor reviewer who was trying to write notes, find his song sheet, manipulate the programme and wave his flag simultaneously.
Alan Wiseman 27 July 2010
