For this European premiere of the Bill
Russell play, previously staged only in the USA, Collapsible
Theatre Company take the audience the 'other' side of the velvet
rope and into the happening' world of Studio 54, the place to be
in the eighties.
Staged
in a rather tight space, and with a very compact and versatile set
this Luke Sandler directed cast make the utmost use of it all.
Medical
student Ian, Ben Levine, is introduced to the world of 54 by his
friend Blake and Ian falls in love with Caleigh, played by
Chantelle Staynings. There is a problem, Caleigh is the 'property'
of Marshall as a kept woman, and also needs her considerable bills
picked up by someone.
Harriet
Usher plays the hard-bitten Brigette who can arrange anything....
if the price is right, and she leads our hero on the first
faltering steps of his downfall.
The
plot twists and turns as relationships prosper and disintegrate
then others form and the show gradually builds to an inevitable
conclusion.
The
company has some very good singing voices and perform the numerous
songs well, the songs themselves however are not particularly
outstanding, pleasant enough but I didn't leave the theatre
whistling any of them.
As
a piece of late evening entertainment this is certainly a play
well worth seeing, especially if like me you are old enough to
remember the times yourself.
|