Return to the Forbidden Planet

This show is a favourite of mine, having seen the first professional tour of it some years ago. This jukebox musical was originally conceived as performer/musician piece where most of the cast also played the instruments. This clearly cannot happen for most amateur productions (although I have seen one that performed it that way) but it matters not and in fact probably, in my opinion, focusses the attention more on the characters. I always think it rather distracting if characters are playing the instruments as well as I end up thinking about the logistics of that instead of the actual characterisations.

Forbidden Planet is loosely based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” , and takes its inspiration from the 1950s B movie “Forbidden Planet” which has become something of a cult sci-fi movie. Therefore, given that the music is well known, as is the source material, most audience members would be somewhat familiar with elements of this show. This was somewhat of a departure from the norm for Dawlish, and it was disappointing to see only a half full house for what turned out to be a very entertaining production.

Marylin always directs a well thought through piece and this was well staged and cast. An attractive set, created in house, contained all the elements necessary from flashing lights and panels, to sliding doors, to video screens, to hand held iPads and monster tentacles appearing through flaps and down from the flies. The costumes (purchased I believe as a job lot from another company) were all in keeping with the set.

Lighting and sound by orange box were excellent and the overall look and feel of the piece was really good. In fact, I thought the technical aspect of the show was the best I have seen at Dawlish.

Obviously, this show can be played largely tongue in cheek, although for it to work, the cast have to play it straight. This they did. It is in turn very melodramatic (purposefully), comedic and camp and works best played straight and to the audience. The set (being the bridge of the space ship) acting very much as an amphitheatre for the action that unfolds.

The band was located side stage, but in view of the audience, and supported the cast well and produced an excellent sound. I did wonder how the cast would cope with the well-known pop classics that pepper this show, but they coped very well indeed.

Andrew Malcolm gave a strong and entertaining performance as Captain Tempest, maintaining a good dominance of his crew and an understanding of the Shakespeare elements of the script. Gemma Castro-Silva, a newcomer to Dawlish but well known in Torbay, showed her excellent vocals to good effect as Miranda. Mike Hewitt was suitably melodramatic as Dr Prospero and Ian Clatworthy was nicely hapless as the love lorn cookie. I really liked Elizabeth Borbon’s performance as the science officer / Gloria.

The musical numbers were choreographed neatly to respect the abilities of the cast and the space limitations whereby an already small stage was further limited by the fairly extensive stage set.

If you love the 50s and 60s rock and roll classis, as I do, then you cannot fail to enjoy this show, and I felt this was certainly up with the best that I have seen at Dawlish. It was such a shame that it did not appear to be box office but I suspect Dawlish audiences are perhaps a bit more traditional in their tastes. Those that were present on the night I attended certainly had a ball and enjoyed it greatly although it was entertaining to listen to the ladies in front of me trying to decipher the story and what it meant !!!

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