Chimes

Thank you as always for your warm welcome. It was interesting to see you had set the seating in a cabaret format which was very useful to rest my notebook on.

You are a fortunate group to have a member who is willing and able to take a story they have been inspired by and turn it into a play. My congratulations to Mark Breach whose perseverance brought about the performance we were to watch tonight.

I’m sure like many others I had not heard of Charles Dickens 1844 novella ‘The Chimes’ but luckily your director had given us an overview in the digital programme. It centres around the disillusionment of Toby Veck who has ‘lost his faith in humanity and believes his poverty is a result of his unworthiness’. He, with the assistance of the spirits, travel through his journey and achieve a satisfactory conclusion.

The opening set was a flat decorated with bricks to depict the cathedral with steps just off centre, and another building with steps and a door with a stained-glass window which was the Alderman’s home. There were steps down to the hall on both sides of the stage which were used when Toby was delivering his letters. Additional scenes were set with a variety of chairs and tables appropriate to the status of the characters. The personal and stage props were numerous and well sourced. Toby’s newspaper appeared authentic, the barrel on the stand sturdy, and the body when it fell was weighty. The stage crew worked efficiently to change the scenes.

The sound and lighting were controlled from the rear of the hall. The sound effects added atmosphere to the piece, although they did seem to cut out at points and then begin again. The bell chimes are essential to this story as they speak to Toby. The lighting that was used took into account the different scenes although occasionally the spot lights were dipped too quickly. The smoke machines gave us a feeling of a cold, wintry setting.

The costumes demonstrated a clear difference between the classes with the wealthy in elaborate outfits and the poor in more basic wear. I did feel though that the poorer members of the cast, especially Young Lilian’s appearance, was too clean and tidy and would have benefitted from being truer to their standing and period. The Goblins of the Chimes outfits were ideal and I liked the fact that time had been taken to make the masks individual.

The protagonist in the story, Toby Veck, or ‘Trotty’ as his job entailed him trotting between homes delivering missives, was well played by your actor. He did appear a little reticent at the beginning but grew in confidence and delivery as the play progressed. He plied his trade from the steps of the church; he also demonstrated what he believed to be his unworthiness when faced with members of the higher classes. His confusion and interaction with the messages from the spirits, the love of his family, and the assistance he was prepared to give to people in trouble was well played. He moved with meaning during the dream sequence, pleading with the spirits to show him their care and save his loved ones. His reaction when he awoke from his fever was joyous.

The young people who performed as the Goblins of the Chimes were perfect. They were all well versed with their text and delivered their lines with clarity so the story could move on. They were sure of their positioning on stage, moved well and added an eeriness to the production. They also depicted the children later on in the story.

The player portraying Toby’s daughter, Meg, showed humanity and the care she felt for her father. Her feelings and hope of a happier life with Richard were shown and almost immediately quashed following the Alderman’s speech. Her love, care and despair for Lilian was evident in the story. It was great to see a positive conclusion.

Meg’s beau Richard seemed a little uncertain and concerned when first on stage but I felt he relaxed and his acting skill developed. He was easily led away from his chosen path into one of destruction. The ending showed us a stronger character who had followed his own path.

The Filer was given a strong, forceful character by your player. She looked down her nose at those she felt were inferior to her even saying that Toby was ‘a robber’ and made sure her opinions were delivered clearly to the Alderman.

The actor depicting the Alderman Cute created a pompous character who knew his pronouncements were correct, he was of course a ‘Justice’ and there was nonsense talked about starvation and poverty.  He was determined to eliminate suicide as it was a vice the poor used and was absolutely sure that what he told those in a lower social stratum was true. 

The clothing worn by MP Sir Joseph Bowley and his wife Lady Bowley showed their standing in society. The artist playing the MP did so in a clear, upright manner. He portrayed himself as a ‘poor man’s friend’, their ‘perpetual parent’, but when in conversation with the Alderman it was clear he held the same views of the ‘undeserving poor’ and the putting down of people like Will Fern. His wife spoke in a pure upper-class accent about ‘that class of people’ and obviously agreed with her husband’s points of view, after all she had introduced ‘pinking and eyelet- holing among the men and boys’ which Will didn’t approve of.

The above-named Will Fern and his niece Lilian were the next members of the company who were welcomed on the scene.  Your player was a forthright man who showed his caring side. Although he realised his actions were unwise, they were for a reason and he thought the Alderman would help him. Toby was able to use his knowledge to dissuade him from this action, and although poor, invited them to his home. His impassioned plea during the dream was brilliantly delivered. The young lady playing Lilian was excellent she delivered her lines with expression, knew her stage positions and interacted well with the other members of the cast.

Lilian’s life had taken the path of many when in dire straits and she demonstrated her despair when she visited Meg. This was a powerful scene in which she professed herself not worthy of her love.

The actor depicting Tugby did so in a strident manner. She delivered her lines loudly, although I did feel that the pitch could be varied; she was determined that what she wanted was going to happen.

Mrs Chickenstalker was essentially a caring person and your player gave a good portrayal. There was light and shade in her speeches and it was good to see her determination in getting what she wanted, and that she was the lady Will was searching for.

The Gentleman in Black was a sombre being; his pronouncements were well delivered.

The ensemble at the end created a joyful feeling for the New Year and Wedding with the added singing of the ‘Twelve days of Christmas’.

The story was written as a follow up to ‘The Christmas Carol’ with the inclusion of the mystical beings, but is not well known. Trotty has heard messages from the bells for years telling him he was a ‘good man’, but he was starting to believe the stories from the newspapers rather than the bells that the poor’s condition was because they were born bad. Dickens criticised class conflicts which effected the lives of the ‘have nots’ at the time the story was set, I wonder to what degree such changes have moved on in today’s society?

Congratulations to your whole team, both front of house and behind the scenes. A production with themes which made us think. Thank you.

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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