Brassed Off

Set in the 1990’s after a bitter decade in the 80’s of the miner’s strikes the play concentrates on Grimley Colliery Band and the community surrounding the band and mine. 

 

The set looked absolutely great with a coal mine head wheel and platform allowing some scenes to be played above the main stage action.  The use of the space including that in front of the stage and at the back of the auditorium was very effective and I particularly liked the marching bands competition where the band got more inebriated with each village visited.

 

The lighting worked well and the sound along with the amazing brass band were exceptional. For those characters who were part of the band you did a fabulous job. Not sure who was playing and who wasn’t but from where I sat it looked like you all were so good job. The costumes worked well for each character and props were in keeping for the time.

 

The children in the show all did an amazing job with appropriate facial expressions and acting skills and Ben Hadfield as young Shane put in a fabulous performance with great delivery of lines and interaction with the adult actors. Lewis Kilgour played the older Shane along with a couple of minor parts and delivered all those parts well.

 

Elaine Thomson and Ros Hendren put in great performances as the wives of Harry and Jim. Their characters were polar opposites but they were supportive of each other and their difficulties in life. Mike Sammon and Jon Crebbin were fabulous as their other halves. Much of the comedy in the play was expertly delivered by these two and they made it look so natural. Great delivery of dialogue even when playing drunk by both of you.

 

Andrew Fidler played a great Danny the leader of the Colliery band who takes the band playing much more professionally than all of the others. A very poignant performance.

 

Tracey Rontree was superb as Sandra the wife trying to make ends meet after years of minimum money coming into the household. Playing opposite John Meachen as her husband Phil you could feel the despair and lack of hope which Tracey and John portrayed with great empathy. Both performances were touching and the characterisation of both was well rounded and natural. John’s scenes with his dad were touching and full of emotion which was never over played by John.

 

Gavin Stamper made a lovely Andy who is torn between his feelings for Gloria, her job and his mate’s loyalty. His diction was very good and the chemistry between him and Jo Farrow playing Gloria looked very natural.

 

 Jo Farrow as Gloria put in an absolutely superb performance, not only acting the part but playing flugelhorn beautifully too. Jo was wonderfully natural in the role and delivered her lines with ease especially when up against the sexist attitudes of some of the band players where she gave as good as she got. Her playing of flugelhorn was beautiful especially in her solo piece.

 

The Mossley band never looked out of place in the acting parts and the direction was well handled by Billy and Lee who cast the show superbly and then added layers to the characterisation of each part. Well done to all involved in what was a lovely evenings entertainment.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.