The Revival

Whenever I attend an Alvechurch production, I am confident that the evening will be marked by outstanding entertainment. The performances consistently feature excellent acting and credible portrayals of each character, complemented by impressive set design and construction. The experienced backstage team, including costumes, hair, and makeup, further enhances the overall quality, along with high standards for sound and lighting.

The Revival is a compelling and darkly comedic stage play by James Cawood that presents a unique narrative. Set during the dress rehearsal of a ghost drama, the story examines rising tensions among the cast and an increasingly unstable director as elements from the script begin to manifest in their real lives. 

The "play within a play" setup uses the classic cursed production trope. During a stressful dress rehearsal, cast members bicker, forget lines, and the director nears panic as events described in their 1946 play, Scared to Death, start happening in the theatre. Tension rises when secrets emerge and it becomes clear the play’s curse is real.

Chris Davies was type cast as director Michael Prentice, delivering an outstanding performance. His use of “choice language” actually enhanced the dialogue, and some in the audience laughed out loud at his use of expletives. Body language along with tone of voice exhibited a pace, urgency and frustration recognisable to those familiar with directing. Chris demonstrated thorough command over both his cast and the overall production. Notably, he provided direction from the back of the hall, introducing a different dynamic to the staging. At the beginning of the dress rehearsal Chris was seen barking lighting and technical queues to Clive Munro (Mat Andrews) in the lighting box. It was only right at the end of act one when an out of breath Clive entered the rehearsal hall, profusely apologising for being late, and clutching a large tin of paint in each hand did the audience and cast alike realise that if Clive wasn’t in the lighting box, who had been dimming the lights, closing the window and operating the other special effects?

It's true that in every amateur dramatic group I've encountered, there's inevitably some degree of drama among the members, in fact, they thrive on it. Speculation was rife as to if the the director was having an affair with the beautiful but somewhat dippy, American actress Sophie Essenheimer (Sophie Gartside) whose inability to recall her lines or take direction proved so infuriating to the others, even testing the patience of the director Michael. Hugo Tilling-Hunt (Jon Oseland), Eddie Wilde (Adam Brown), and Alison Woodley (Sharon Jukes) each contributed significantly to their respective roles, with the male characters frequently considering their nonexistent prospects with Sophie. Alison’s apprehensions intensified when Diana South (Sue Resuggan), renowned for her commanding presence as somewhat of a veteran diva, recited lines during the rehearsal for the séance. “Enter! I invite you to enter and walk with us side by side!” These words initiated the gradual emergence of the play's purported curse, leaving the cast entangled in a genuine and unsettling ghost story. On watching Sue perform, I found this to be my favourite performance to date. Her portrayal of the character was confident and seasoned, and her lavish costume perfectly matched the part she played. The ominous voice of the Ghost of Alderwick Haye (Keith Williams) could be heard during the haunting when windows closed themselves and portraits dropped to the floor. I understand Keith stepped up to cover this role at short notice, due to illness. Giles Heath (Steve Siddle) made a return appearance on stage, bringing clarity at the conclusion when he confronted Michael and revealed to both the cast and audience the supernatural events behind the curse.

The whole performance was excellent, engaging entertainment, with comedic elements throughout the overarching plot. The technical team demonstrated considerable expertise in successfully implementing numerous special effects to convey the intended atmosphere. Period costumes were executed with care. The high standard and attention to detail distinguishes the company from others, including those performing at renowned venues. The production was such an enjoyable experience, totally worthy of deserved recognition.

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