The Hired Man

The Hired Man is a lovely piece of musical theatre. Melvyn Bragg’s early twentieth century Cumberland tale, is far removed from the normal romantic musical comedies performed by amateur companies.                            

The show opens at the Cockermouth  Hirings where the local lads are lookingl for work on the surrounding farms. We are introduced to a whole range of local people, but particularly the Tallentire Family, brothers, John, Isaac and Seth. All three parts very well played by James Hutchinson, Simon Noble and Mark Crossley respectively. There was also a very powerful performance from Julia Bennett, playing John’s wife Emily, which included an extra marital dalliance with John’s bosses son Jackson Pennington, again very well played by Jack Lenox. All other roles and minor parts were very well played, and the chorus numbers, solos and ensembles were all very strongly sung.

The action of the story moved from the hirings to the pits of West Cumberland in Whitehaven, to the lads joining up for service in the First World War, Portraying the lads in the trenches, and the families left behind, all very poignant and heart wrenching. During this period we are also introduced to John and Emily’s family daughter May and son Harry.

The choreography set by Jenni Hutchinson, also playing Sally Edmondson, was very convincing, as were the fight scenes, which must have taken lots of rehearsal. The set, designed and built by society stalwart, Neil Airey, was very effective, and the lighting and sound, designed by Andrew Lindsay, was as always excellent.

This was a very very good production from the company, and very well directed by Fiona, and directed musically by Colin.

Just a very small downside from me, and it’s only a personal opinion as a director. I felt the chorus were in freeze positions, during principal scenes for long periods, when they could have been much more animated, miming conversation with friends and neighbours, for example.

A big thank you to the company for a very good evening's entertainment.

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