Cider with Rosie

The play “Cider with Rosie” is based on the classic autobiographical book of the same name penned by Laurie Lee and published in 1959. The book has proved to be one of the UK’s most popular books and has been used as a set English Literature text for school children, selling at least six million copies at the last count.It has been adapted for the stage by London theatre Director James Roose-Evans, and is a nostalgic and evocative look at Lee’s first seventeen years of life growing up in Slad a rural Cotswolds village in England between the two world wars at a time when the rural and social traditions of the past were changing and disappearing due to the repercussions of the First World War and the progress and innovation of the twentieth century.  If you were going to the theatre to see this production hoping for drama action or mystery, you would be disappointed, this was a beautiful gentle and poignant play performed by Wigan Little Theatre. The story is about Lee’s recollection of being brought up with his seven brothers and sisters by a single mother after her husband had abandoned the family and takes us from his first day at school in 1918 to his adolescence. Laurie Lee explores personal relationships in a gentle and genteel way however it is not all beautiful and positive or a place where life is perfect as there are some darker moments in the story, there are character deaths and horror stories are told. It is set in a world without technological devices where members of the audience can see and hear about a harsh impoverished rural world which was vanishing and how people entertained themselves. Although there was poverty, hardship and no National Health Service to call on when they got sick, life could be precarious, people were more pragmatic, but family was important, and they were still able to enjoy their lives.

 Directed by Lou Steggals it is an ensemble piece with a multitalented cast, and along the way we meet lots of different interesting characters. At the centre of the play is the colourful and vivid narration from the adult Laurie Lee played very well by Richard Ellis, looking back some forty years he holds everything together and was secure in this very important role.Sabrina Haynes portrayed very nicely the stress of being a single parent and was just right as Mother, who loved to collect china and tell stories about her days working downstairs in the big house. Then there was Jacob Saye who was very well suited to the role of Laurie’s brother Tony. Nicholas Walsh gave a good convincing performance as Loll the young innocent schoolboy Laurie Lee, who on, reaching adolescence, succumbed to the charms of first his friend, Jo and then Rosie, mentioned in the title, the scene towards the end of the play drinking the cider with Rosie was very touching. Other talented performers who played numerous roles and interesting characters between them were Amanda Leamon, Stephen Jones, Alex Lafferty, Charlotte Aspinall, and Chloe Kealey.  It would be unfair to single out any one of the talented actors for praise as they all worked as a team with important roles to play in the success of this production. However, just to be constructive this play relies very much on recollection and storytelling by the cast for the plot and the production to work, unfortunately I am not sure if it was due to the location of my seat in the auditorium but it was a little hard at times to hear some of the dialogue, it is very important that diction is clear and the cast project when speaking so the audience can follow the story and the action on stage. Although, I was impressed that the cast held their rural Gloucestershire accents well.

The set designed by Lou Steggals had an impressive video screen as a backdrop which was used for changing scenes and seasons from summer to winter, when it was snowing on screen, I actually felt a little cold as it was so realistic, but it was also beautiful and effective. I was impressed and would have liked to see it used for more scenes. There were also two built sets at each side of the stage representing the door to the Lee’s cottage and their neighbour's home. To change scenes the cast quickly transformed the stage from a dining-room into the bedroom and a charabanc by just changing the position of chairs and using the odd table and props, this was very effective which meant quick efficient changes between scenes keeping the action moving at a good pace and the action was also enhanced by good technical input with atmospheric lighting, Well done Stage Manager Joey Wiswell,  and all the crew including the set builders, painters, lighting, sound, props and the costumes which added authenticity to the period setting of the play and the characters.

Congratulations to all involved in bringing this beautiful, gentle, informative and sometimes poignant production, to the stage, we had a lovely evening being taken back to a much gentler time, thank you for inviting us.

T

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