Tonight at 8:30 by Noel Coward
Theatre Royal, Brighton
16th - 19th July
To celebrate their 21st Birthday, the English Touring Theatre have taken on the ambitious task of putting on a staggering 21 plays. Nine of these comprise of the one act plays that make up Coward's Tonight at 8:30. Director, Blanche McIntyre has remained faithful to Cowards original idea, staging three plays each night at the Theatre Royal with an impressive Saturday extravaganza featuring all nine of the shows together. It's the first time you can see all of them together since Coward put them on in 1936.
Played out in rep, this collection of one act plays serves not only to provide a varied and enjoyable evening for the audience but is a brilliant opportunity for this very tight cast to showcase their talents. A trio of plays each night under the titles 'Cocktails', 'Dinner' and Dancing' is a theatrical experience that an audience will rarely get at such an established venue as the Theatre Royal. No matter which plays you see during the run, expect a simple yet versatile set and fantastic lighting and sound effects that take you effortlessly from one situation to another.
Wednesday's three plays kicked off with 'Ways and Means', in which Kirsty Besterman and Gyurui Sarossy were sublime in their portrayal of Stella and Toby Cartwright, a couple of socialites facing the humility of financial ruin. The dynamic between them was phenomenal in this fast paced gem of a one act play. This was followed by 'Fumed Oak', an uncomfortable play to watch, with violence and unpleasant and harsh truths. Peter Singh as Henry Gow was funny and sinister all at once, evoking hate and sympathy for him in a confusing and dark little play. The final play, 'Still Life' was, of course to become the film 'Brief Encounters' in it's next incarnation and McIntyre's interpretation of this, all staged in a railway cafe was quite simply some of the most stunning theatre you could hope to see.
Robert Innes Hopkins design is superb and combined with McIntyre's direction, you feel at times that you are there with the cast and deeply involved in the action. Most notably in 'Still Life', where all the theatrical elements combined made you feel as if you were sitting in the cafe, witnessing the exchanges and affairs taking place and living the moment with characters you felt you knew. The coming and going of the trains was so brilliantly executed that for a moment you could really believe that you were there.
This couldn't come more highly recommended as a great way to spend an evening. More of an 'experience' than a play, you can guarantee that Coward's text, with its timeless and universal human truths will be performed to perfection by a brilliant ensemble under McIntyre's perceptive direction. McIntyre describes this as "Coward' attempt to revitalise the one act play and celebrate what actors can do". This is exactly what she achieves here.
4/5 Coward at it's finest. Get your tickets quick!
