The Birds

~~When I told people that I was going to see the Birds the immediate reaction was how are they going to do that on stage. Visions of birds on wires etc flashed across their minds; well!  we saw the film . Needless to say  the Novelette which started all this off , the play which was an adaptation of that novelette and the film have really  only one thing in common which is of course the Birds themselves.

The original story approx 40 pages long  is tightly written and basically concerned with the situation  and its affect on  one family. There is tension in the writing and one can identify with  the prime character as he grapples with what is needed to  protect his family and how he can shield them from what he realises is a psychological  as well as a physical danger. The Birds" is a masterpiece, in part, at least, because it provides no real explanation for the apocalyptic violence it depicts. It seemed instead to anticipate, with no little prescience, imminent large-scale environmental catastrophe

Conor Macpherson, who was responsible for this “dramatic adaptation” must  have thought lets keep the birds and throw most of the rest out.; so he did… The story now revolves around 3 relative strangers. Dianne  (Geraldine Moloney Judge) and Nat (Mike Sowden) have it seems met on the road; Nat is ill and they have fetched up in a house deserted due to the present situation and located in a largely uninhabited  part of Cornwall. There are vague references to a nearby farm and a village approx 15 minutes away and we are made aware of  small insights into their former lives. Nat
has had mental issues and Dianne a former novelist seems to have been largely neglected by her daughter.

Enter Julia  (Kirsten Branscombe) a young and attractive woman who brings supplies  and the probability that the eternal triangle will be emerging ‘ere long.  It is obvious that this latter character has something to hide giving the audience room for speculation. Tension between the ladies grows  especially when Ned and Julia become lovers. It is not this however which is the catalyst for the final denouement Julia goes out returning with more supplies but seemingly unable to remember where they  were found. What has happened to the farmer across the way?  Is Julia playing fast and loose  but not revealing what is or is not happening. Is she a murderer. Well  if she is it is not the neighbouring farmer as he now makes his entrance complete with wire waste paper basket on his head.for protection.. Dianne is alone and obviously frightened  but he simply wants her to join him  claiming he has plenty of food etc. Having been refused he leaves.  Dianne seems strangely reluctant to speak of this visit but now the tension between the three protagonist increases and Dianne decides that action must be taken.

Her visitor has left her some medication, presumably sleeping pills, and she spikes Nat’s drink while Julia is out of the room and  packs him off to bed. When Julia asks about Nat Dianne tells her he had gone out some time ago and Julia  decides to go out and find him.  Dianne now fully bolts the door following Julia’s departures effectively ending the triumvirate; the symbolism of this action  being unmistakeable.  Waking after 24hrs Nat now goes out in search of Julia returning with the news that the Farmer is dead and with the  realisation that either the birds have got her or she has returned from whence she came.   There seems to be little future in staying where they are and so they gather their meagre possessions and venture forth to whatever the future holds.
 
This is an absorbing play in its exploration of  people who are trapped  in what in  effect is a prison, albeit in some ways of their own making.  Ideas and questions about what they should or could have done to alleviate their situation must have invaded the minds of the audience. I’m sure their reasons to act as they did  were contained in the dialogue but one had to listen carefully, aye there’s the rub.  The effect of the birds trying to gain entrance  to their refuge was very skilfully done, unseen but menacing. Phil McConnell, Mike Sanders and Mike Sowden demonstrated their directorial abilities in dealing with the  psychological  difficulties of different people inhabiting a confined  space and facing danger from without. In  this regard the movement of the players was paramount and  effectively done.

The three who were observable in the main all captured the character of the person they were playing extremely well. Dianne the diarist whose writings were done in voiceover, older and more vulnerable. What did she really think of Nat and Julia; Nat practical but highly strung and Julia, sly hiding  behind her unknown background and actions.  We only saw Tierney (Gareth Crawshaw)  for a short period  but he made the most of it with a powerful performance.

I mentioned the necessity of the dialogue previously and it was unfortunate that it was hard at times to hear “Julia”  which  made understanding uncertain. Along with their need for their first priority, new roof,  Carlton might have as their next ambition.a sound system in keeping with the splendid job they do in maintaining one of the few theatres in the immediate area. Long may they continue to do so. Congratulations to the whole team concerned with this production

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