Skip to main content

Review of Constellations at the Church Of The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton

In a parallel universe, this second cast version of Masque Theatre’s production of Constellations by Nick Payne did not fall foul of serious rehearsal impediments to Covid. However, alas, both cast members Gemma Knight as Marianne, and Anthony Burgess as Roland fell to Covid at different times and in this universe, the best part of three weeks of rehearsals was lost. However, on the evidence of their performance, it impacts less than you might think on the final product.

Foremost, this is the same show as my previous review of Constellations, so for that click here to see the gist of the production rather than going over the same ground here. Repetition is for Constellations itself, not my review.

However, there is much that feels different in this version performance-wise. Knight and Burgess bring their own dynamic to the show. They are older than the other performers, so, they bring more experience of life to the show’s feel. Little nuances that you only earn from living life. You often believe the relationship more, and without doubt Knight and Burgess have a more natural approach to the performance.

Among my favourite differences was a very contrasting telling of the bee tale by Burgess, I have to admit, despite having already seen it a lot in the previous version, Burgess presented even more humour from the delivery of this. It was one of my favourite moments the first time, and it became more so in this telling.

Knight brings equally a different, but an excellent portrayal of Marianne to the stage. I particularly liked the increased development of the character's illness, especially with the added physicality she portrayed.

Perhaps either intentionally, or because of the simple loss of time, there were slightly fewer movement pieces in this version, however, they were no less a delightful part of the story. The dance routine was again lovely and poignantly returned to at the very end.

Constellations in both its forms truly showed the strength of community theatre in Northampton and while the stars aligned to make the rehearsal process troublesome, the result was still a great deal better than many amateur, and indeed, professional shows on offer.

A parallel universe short of perfection.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Performance reviewed: Friday 8th April 2022 at the Church Of The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton.

Constellations ran at the Church Of The Holy Sepulchre until Saturday 9th April 2022 (including Saturday matinee).

For further details about the Masque Theatre see their website at http://www.masquetheatre.co.uk/

Constellations is MASQUE THEATRE NORTHAMPTON PRODUCTION

Rehearsal images

Popular posts from this blog

Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (N.M.T.C.) at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

The now-legendary Jesus Christ Superstar , written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, initially struggled to find backing in 1970, so its first airing was as a concept album rather than the now mainly recognised stage show. Now, 55 years later, the legendary Northampton Musical Theatre Company, at least in Northampton, brings the show to the Royal & Derngate once again, after last performing it in 2010. The story, I suspect, needs little introduction, so I leave you to ensure you know the story before heading to the theatre to see the show. And what a show it is: this is the N.M.T.C., almost at the top of their game, assembling the cream of their group and a vast cast supporting the main players. As lead, newcomer Linden Iliffe takes on the weighty role of Jesus of Nazareth, and he is terrific in the challenging part, depicting the innocent power imbued in him and his desperation and disappointment as his life unravels amid bitter betrayal and disownment. He has a powerful voice,...
Read more

Review of The Bodyguard at Milton Keynes Theatre

The 1992 film The Bodyguard , starring Kevin Costner and marking the acting debut of singing megastar Whitney Houston, was a standard romantic thriller, greatly enhanced by Houston's presence and a cascade of big musical numbers. Surprisingly, it took twenty years to make the transition to the stage. Premiering in London in December 2012, just ten months after Houston's death, the show has since become a massive global success. Now it arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre again as part of its fourth UK tour in just thirteen years. The Bodyguard sees former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, hired to protect an Academy Award-nominated actress and music superstar, Rachel Marron, from a stalker. Between Farmer's duties and Marron's career, something inevitably builds between the two amid music and dancing aplenty. Taking the leads on this tour are Sidonie Smith as Rachel and Adam Garcia as Frank. Smith has appeared in The Bodyguard before, as a walk-in in a p...
Read more

Review of Hacktivists by Ben Ockrent performed by R&D Youth Theatre at Royal & Derngate (Underground), Northampton

The National Theatres Connections series of plays had been one of my highlights of my trips to R&D during 2014. Their short and snappy single act style kept them all interesting and never overstaying their welcome. So I was more than ready for my first encounter with one of this years Connections plays ahead of the main week of performances at R&D later in the year. Hacktivists is written by Ben Ockrent, whose slightly wacky but socially relevant play Breeders I had seen at St James Theatre last year. Hacktivists is less surreal, but does have a fair selection of what some people would call odd. Myself of the other hand would very much be home with them. So we are presented with thirteen nerdy "friends" who meet to hack, very much in what is termed the white hat variety. This being for good, as we join them they appear to have done very little more than hacked and created some LED light device. Crashing in to spoil the party however comes Beth (Emma-Ann Cranston)...
Read more