My take on these two short plays is clearly documented in my log:
The Local Stigmatic: Dreadful.
The Dwarfs: Much better than the Stigmatic!!
That’s all he wrote, folks.
We liked the Lyric Studio back then and quite often went there for interesting new works or (as in this case) rarely seen revivals. Mandrake Theatre Company seems to have been in the business for that sort of thing, although I don’t think we saw their work too often.
Despite being in the low-key studio, this double bill was reviewed by The Standard. Nick Curtis did not agree with my comparative take on the two plays, giving both the dreaded Standard “X”:
A rare visit to the theatre by me and Janie on a Monday evening. We had chosen to take a week off work; partly for culture and partly, in Janie’s case, I think to spend time with Phillie and her medical stuff. We had little opportunity to go away properly around that time, so it made sense to take a bit of time.
But this play/production was a waste of time for us.
It was doing very little for us, so we left at half time to enjoy a longer session over a super meal at Grano.
One of Vicky Featherstone’s earlier efforts at directing.
Like a spacecraft that has lost its bearings…I’m sue you get my drift.
Grano Restaurant in Chiswick was something special. New in 1998, award-winning “best Italian Restaurant in London” in 1999. We had a super meal there. Sadly, now gone.
I have very little intel on this play/production, other than the above sheet handed to us at the Lyric.
I think the playwright is probably THIS Stephen Clark but I could be wrong.
My one word review of the play/production was:
Good
…which means it was good.
My records show that we went to Sabai Sabai afterwards. Janie and I had a little reminisce when I found that reference, as we both remember really liking that place – we went quite often back then. So good they named it twice.
Ironically, I think we ate in there rather than take away, but perhaps on this occasion we took away!
The next day we went to a rather ghastly chiropody trade show in Mitcham (Footman) before visiting my folks. The diaries reveal.
John White loves a bit of existential angst, so what could be a better choice for a Saturday night out than Huis Clos? Mandy was up for it. Annalisa was up for it. Off we went to the Lyric Hammersmith – the small Studio theatre there.
The play is set in hell, which is said to be a hot place.
It really was o-t ‘ot that evening. Clammy August and naturally the air conditioning system in the Studio wasn’t working.
Here’s my database/diary note for this evening:
The air conditioning had broken down on one of the hottest days of the year. The Lyric gave us all free squash in the interval because it was so bad. It did make the play about hell truly multi-sensory. The line “it’s so hot in here” had the whole audience in stitches.
An after work visit to the theatre with Bobbie on a Wednesday evening. The Lyric Studio did really high quality fringe stuff back then. This cast included Adrian Dunbar, Dearbhla Molloy and Michelle Fairley would you believe?
This production was actually the Tricycle Theatre (or do I now have to say “Kiln” even when discussing productions gone by?) in exile at the Lyric Studio. Hence Nicholas Kent directing.
I don’t remember all that much about this play/production, other than it being pretty impressive for a small studio production and being very Northern Irish in tone and subject matter. The acting and directing was top notch.