 The
wonderful Art Malik has long been a 'Hero' of mine and so it was
fitting that the first time I see him performing live on stage it
is in a show of the same name.
Heroes
is Tom Stoppard's translation of Gerald Sibleyras's play 'The Wind
in The Poplars', Three French war veterans living in a convent run
military hospital spend their time on a secluded terrace in the
company of a stone dog commenting on the passing of time and life.
Described as atypical Stoppard, lacking in his usual one liners,
the comedy stems from the continuing situation the three
characters find themselves in.
This Churchill Theatre, Bromley
production stars three very different Icons of the performing
arts. Art Malik, known for many TV and film roles has also had a
renowned stage career, still probably best remembered as Hari
Kumar in 'Jewel in the Crown'. Christopher Timothy who to most of
us will forever be remembered with his arm fully immersed in a
cow’s posterior, has also had a varied career in other TV shows
as well as numerous stage shows.
The final  member
of the trio is the eminent actor Michael Jayston, who although not
solely connected with one particular character continues to have a
wide and varied career covering all performance forms and is one
of those people of which everyone says oh yes we have seen him
before. He has been everything from the romantic lead in 'Jane
Eyre', to a Time Lord in 'Dr Who', via Shakespeare to being
involved in several wars.
Three distinguished performers each
subtly different from the other, portray characters so different
from those we are used to seeing, which proves the superb quality
of each of these gentlemen.
This
play is only one hour and fifteen minutes and is full of humour
evident in the clever script as much as the outstanding
performances. The set is beautiful with an alleyway of trees
helping protect this secluded terrace, an area of grass and
flowerbeds running round the walls and a paved area, complete with
a bench and chairs overlooked by a stone dog.
This
beautiful play superbly performed is on in Glasgow from 20th
till 25th November 2006. See it if you can.
I
hope it wont be too long before I get to see any or all of these
gentlemen perform live again.
Oh
and when you are finished with the puppy can I have him please?
Sheila at one4review.co.uk
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