Return to the Forbidden Planet

I had never seen this show before my visit and really didn’t know what to expect and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a clever combination of Shakespearian dialogue, loosely based on The Tempest, and well known pop numbers from the 1950s and 1960s.  If I’m honest it took me a while to get into the style of the show and to understand where it was going but, helped by an enthusiastic cast with a fairly wide age range, it became clearer as the performance moved on.

Dave Blaker’s characterisation of the mad Professor, Doctor Prospero, was excellent and his extensive stage experience and big voice really shone through.  Likewise Jonathan Jeeves, as Captain Tempest, was very strong and he also showed off a voice range well suited to his numbers.  I felt that Helen Green, as Gloria, grew into her part and 'Go Now', when Prospero leaves, was a highlight of the show for me.  Playing the soft hearted Robot, Ariel, was 14 year old Cory Hart and I was really impressed with him.  He sang and acted well and cleverly danced as a robot would.  There were good all round performances from many people in the cast including Joe Bowman as Arras, the lively Bosun, Rosie Abel as a powerful Navigation Officer, Emily Barrett as Miranda, and Jordan Butler who played the lovesick Cookie.

The cast were well supported by an on stage band but, if anything, whilst I could hear the voices I did feel that the accompaniment could have been taken up a level.

I liked the way the society tried to get everyone in the mood in the way we were welcomed by costumed cast members in the foyer and the prologue, lasting almost 10 minutes before start time, which got people into imagining they were going on a space flight.  Good use of the open stage with lots of computer screens and flashing lights – the society’s technical experts came into their own here - added to the authenticity and congratulations should go to Donna Switzer-Green who was directing and choreographing her first show.

I did wonder whether the whole thing could have had a little more punch and, maybe, have been camped up more which might have added to the spectacle of the piece.  However with choreography and costumes well suiting the period, this was a very enjoyable production which deserved a much bigger audience.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.