Half A Sixpence

This show is always a personal favourite of mine, having played Kipps 35 years ago. Last year’s superb London revival / re-write brought the show back into the public eye. The version currently available to amateurs is not the original 1960’s as this was replaced by the much more recent national tour that starred Gary Wilmot. This version removes some of the musical numbers, simplifies the dialogue considerably, greatly simplifies some of the scenarios and removes the difficult vocal number “The old Military Canal” and replaces it with a cricket match to end Act 1.  These changes made the show more accessible to today’s audiences although it is a great shame that last year’s re-write is not yet available to amateurs, especially considering that there is no sniff of a national tour.

This show is essentially a one man show, although this re-write places a bit more emphasis on some of the other characters. Arthur Kipps does some pretty horrid things to others during the course of the story – i.e. he dumps his long-standing girlfriend in favour of social climbing, then dumps his new fiancé in favour of returning to his roots. He walks out on his job when he comes into money and he shows scant regard for his friends as he socially climbs (There is a comment at one point that they haven’t seen him in a while). Despite all of this, being the central character, he needs to maintain and establish a great rapport with the audience, it is never a good thing for an audience to take against the lead character. In fact, it could be taken that Kipps is merely naïve and doesn’t really understand the impact of his actions and is carried along with events. Naivety is the main focus of this role, and also a likeable brightness. In Dan North Dawlish had found the perfect actor for the role. From the very start he established a wonderful report and empathy with the audience. Dan is able to act with his face and body and was immensely likeable in the role. He dominated the show throughout and wasn’t just watchable, he was riveting. I often found myself looking at him when I should have been looking at others and he certainly wasn’t scene stealing as his performance was very generous to the other performers.

His shop buddies were Sid and Buggins. Normally there is a Pearce too, but not sure if this version cuts that role or it was cut as a result of casting issues that beset the company during the rehearsal process. Marc Forward and Gavin Smith gave strong performances and produced nicely contrasting characters, throughout showing the contrast between what Kipps should have been, and what he was becoming. I liked their lugubrious nature.

Kipps original and final love interest, Ann Pornick, was given a nice neat portrayal by Despina Carr. In this version the character has become rather cardboard and two dimensional but Despina gave it an attractive persona and I liked her rather more uptight progression in act 2 when she encounters Kipps at some higher social gatherings where she is a servant. These scenes serve to establish the widening gulf that is threatening to separate them. In fact, I would have liked her to have given even more vent to her fury which was perhaps a bit contained at times.

The other character that tends to dominate this show is that of actor manager Chitterlow who is the channel for Kipps second fortune. Andrew Malcolm was perfectly cast and gave a suitable larger than life and ever so slightly camp and very theatrical portrayal. He and Dan complimented each other perfectly and were very entertaining to watch. Andrews bright green costume (shades of Mr Toad) was perfect for the role.

The shop girls, Victoria, Flo and Kate were nicely portrayed by Clair Beams, Josie Parkin, and Sarah Goldsworthy. The lack of a third shop lad meant one was doomed to remain single but with the lads they formed a nice grouping and moved nicely in the big numbers.

High society, or rather the local higher society is represented by the Walsingham’s with whom Kipps becomes entangled until he realises the error of his ways and also learns that Young Walsingham has embezzled his money. Elizabeth Borbon as Helen Walsingham was the gentler face of this family. Although professing her love for Kipps, this is one coupling doomed to failure as a result of the misgivings of her aloof mother, and opportunity grasping brother. These were three contrasting performances and Marylin Adams and William Clark played the “baddies” of the piece with some relish.

The stage that this group perform on is tiny and therefore casts are small and directors and choreographers need to keep things simple to ensure a neat production. Choreography did not challenge the company but looked neat and tidy and was well drilled. Maybe some specific dancers in the cast might have been nice but then space would have become more of an issue.

The simple single set served all scenes well and I liked the three arches either side through which we could see action as well. A few pieces of furniture and a few props served the plot perfectly and ensured a swift progression from scene to scene so that pace was never compromised.

Director Chris Matanle encompassed the fact this is a small-town society with a limited pool of performers and ability, and turned this into a nicely balanced, well-paced, neat looking show.

Costumes were excellent as was lighting so the visual side added to the overall effect.

The musicians are always off stage at this venue and the 6-piece band supported and played very well indeed.

I would go as far as to say this was one of the better productions I have seen here so congratulations are due to everyone but the gold star has to go to Dan North who dominated this production completely.

 

 

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