Casting Shadows by Mark Burgess

Congratulations must go to gifted director Barrie Ward for this superior production of Casting Shadows, an absolute gem of a play.

I’m going to begin with the programme which was innovative and informative, and gave a sense of the care and passion that went into Ifield Barn Theatre’s production of this play. The programme included a photograph and biography of Max Miller, Terence Rattigan and Laurence Olivier and a birds-eye view of their respective locations in Brighton.

The plot has comedian Max Miller, playwright Terence Rattigan and actor Sir Laurence Olivier, getting together for champagne and fruitcake on Brighton beach in 1962.  Olivier is planning to stage Hamlet and suggests Max Miller could play "first gravedigger.” As the afternoon progresses it dawns on each of them that they have shared a significant and precious interlude in their lives.

With just three actors it is vital that the content and performance is gripping enough to sustain the audience interest from opening scene to curtain call. I have to say this was achieved in spades.  The tightly written script was historical and humorous and the roles skilfully acted, measured and timed to perfection.

Stewart Lock gave an insightful, sharp humoured portrayal of the supremely intelligent, highly sensitive Terence Rattigan . Barry McCann gave an accomplished performance as fading cheeky chappy Max Miller with his tired, slightly lost air and sense of bravado, I loved his facial expressions.  In contrast, Bob Hamilton’s commanding performance as Laurence Olivier exuded vitality, confidence and bonhomie, his rich luxuriant voice boomed with geniality.

The set was well thought out with blue and sand painted flats, stippled and receding to give the beach and sea impression and this cleverly gave the spacious airy feel of the seaside. A simple wooden frame represented the beach hut with beach chairs and a table upstage centre for the refreshments. This allowed Bob as Laurence, to fill the space and add movement to the scene, cleverly putting him (as the actor of the trio) constantly centre stage.

I loved this witty, sharp play with its clever dialogue including lines such as ‘I’ve always thought the best place for orange juice was in an orange.’ And ‘be yourself, not who others think you are.’

It was about friendship and the gift of hope in the midst of disillusionment, powerful, thought provoking, touching; and exquisitely directed and performed.  

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