Free and Easy

I am so pleased that this company have overcome their difficulties and are continuing to perform. I am also always delighted to see a show that is new to me, as was the case here, although the songs were all very familiar, being popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s.

The plot centred around the various staff and customers of a Manchester pub on a 'Free and Easy' evening, and the structure of the play gave each member of cast a chance to shine; many of the characters addressed the audience directly through a monologue, as well as singing solos and duets at the microphone.

The main set of the pub consisted of a bar stage right and microphone down stage left, with tables and chairs placed between them. The musicians (piano and guitar) were on stage, and this made them very much part of the action.  Entrances to the pub were made via two upstage doors, which worked well for the most part, except that at times there was a bit of crowding between the upstage right door and the bar area. The need to open and close doors also somewhat slowed down the entrances.

When required by the script, the set was changed to an interior of a room (the pub's private quarters, Kevin's house, Mr Stone's office) by the use of an extra group of flats and a door. These scene changes took place in low light and were only partially successful as they tended to break up the action rather too much.  In a piece such as this, with frequent short scenes, it is worth considering possible alternatives to traditional scene changes, for example, using a more representative but minimalist set without the need for walls and a door, and also the use of cast members to move props and scenery (and this can be done in full light as part of the action). Once audiences have realised that this is happening, they are very accepting and enjoy using their imagination.

Lighting was quite minimal and at times lighting changes were a little abrupt, but I suspect that this was due to a lack of equipment and facilities at this venue.  Also, lighting cues were occasionally mistimed, and actors were caught moving into position after scene changes, instead of the lights coming up on them already in place. Sound quality was very good, with a good balance between the singers and the musicians, and excellent projection and clarity from the actors.

Costumes seemed mostly authentic, in particular the girls' mini dresses and boots, although I think the men's' trousers were a little too wide for the period.  Kev's floral suit and medallion were delightful!

There was some good teamwork from the cast, and each performer made the most of their special moments. The monologues had obviously been studied and were delivered well, drawing in the audience and helping us to sympathise with the characters. This group are very fortunate in having some excellent singers among their membership, and the songs were performed well.

The ensemble players stayed in character throughout and were very good at creating an authentic pub atmosphere, and it was a little disappointing that they did not have more to do; perhaps they could have been utilised as backing singers in some of the songs? The dance to Rock Around the Clock at the end of Act 1 was performed enthusiastically and this number would have been enhanced by the full company singing, rather than just the musicians.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.