Tag: Tim Meacock

Factors Unforeseen by Michel Vinaver, Orange Tree Theatre, 16 May 2009

This is one of those rare plays about the workplace; in this case a suntan lotion business. The impecunious Orange Tree is one of the few theatres with solid production stubs going back as far as 2009 – click here for all the details on this one.

As is often the case with workplace plays, this one didn’t quite work for us. The stage was incredibly busy – a huge cast for the tiny Orange Tree. The humour didn’t quite translate/make the grade either.

Still, it was well acted and did provide some interesting points for us to discuss over a Don Fernando Spanish meal afterwards.

 

Once We Were Mothers by Lisa Evans, Orange Tree Theatre, 13 October 2007

My recall of this one is extremely sketchy. I vaguely recall the scenarios, as set out in the Orange Tree Archive – click here. I remember the cast being a collection of Orange Tree regulars and a few new faces. I remember the play not really fitting together – it was basically three separate stories, merely linked by being essentially mother and daughter scenarios.

Michael Billington wasn’t too sure about it – see here.

John Thaxter in British Theatre Guide quite liked it – here.

We’ll have dined at Don Fernando afterwards, that I can say for sure.

The Skin Game by John Galsworthy, Orange Tree Theatre, 7 April 2007

Sam Walters really had got himself locked into the early 20th Century by this time. Frankly, we didn’t think this Galsworthy piece had aged very well. Add to that Sam’s strict orthodoxy about not cutting text, it was quite a long evening at the theatre.

Well acted and directed, we stuck it out for both halves although we did consider making a break for it at half time.

Click here for a link to the Orange Tree resource on this play/production.

The critics liked it rather more than we did. Click here for a link that finds reviews and stuff.

Lips Together, Teeth Apart by Terrence McNally, Orange Tree Theatre, 12 December 1998

The end of a weird quarter, during which we only went to the theatre five times, all of those visits being in Richmond.

Anyway, we both rather liked this play/production, rating it:

A good one.

Very much an off-Broadway play, Lips Together, Teeth Apart worked really well in the round at The Orange Tree.

Nick Curtis was quite taken with it in The Standard:

Lips Curtis StandardLips Curtis Standard 17 Nov 1998, Tue Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

No doubt we ate at Don Fernando’s afterwards – we pretty much always did, although I seem to recall trying an alternative place (Italian I think) that proved less satisfactory on one of those five autumn 1998 visits to Richmond.

The House Among The Stars by Michel Tremblay, Orange Tree Theatre, 31 October 1998

Our Richmond-fest continued with this Canadian (or should I say Quebecois?) play. My log was pretty clear on our take:

Dreadful, we almost missed it due to bad weather and road condition, but still left at half time.

Nick Curtis in The Standard was kinder than that, although still awarded it a blob:

Tremblay Curtis StandardTremblay Curtis Standard 28 Oct 1998, Wed Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

The local Chronicles spoke highly of it:

Tremblay Starr ChroniclesTremblay Starr Chronicles 05 Nov 1998, Thu The Feltham Chronicle (Hounslow, London, England) Newspapers.com

No doubt Janie and I enjoyed our Don Fernando dinner afterwards, despite the play.

Sperm Wars by David Lewis, Orange Tree Theatre, 3 October 1998

My log is silent on this one. I think we quite liked it but clearly didn’t rave about it. Our diaries add nothing. Not even the fact that, almost certainly, we went to Don Fernando afterwards for a Spanish meal.

The local gazette papers had a rave review for this piece:

Sperm Harrison GazettesSperm Harrison Gazettes 16 Oct 1998, Fri Ealing and Acton Gazette (Ealing, London, England) Newspapers.com

Nick Curtis in The Standard was less sure:

Sperm Curtis StandardSperm Curtis Standard 23 Sep 1998, Wed Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com