UK Theatre Network

The Untimely Death of Mr. String.

Camden Fringe.

An outstanding success! “The Untimely Death of Mr. String”, The Raven Theatre Company's  latest comedy is a cleverly written and funny interpretation of the importance of time in every ordinary person’s life. The cast works together brilliantly to create an ensemble piece of thought-provoking theatre through song, comedy and physical theatre.

It opens with live music and vocals from the cast (as the audience are seated) in a haunting 1940’s noir style as set by the experienced and talented musical director Andrea Cullum. The underscore remains with us both vocally and instrumentally including bongo’s, guitars and a touch of imagination. Cullum has an undoubted perfect sense of rhythm, expertly directing this throughout.

The pivotal character of Mr. String, who is born at the age of 33 on a train on way to work as a solicitor is played by the highly capable Ben Hale. The train stops and he is launched into his life, not knowing how he got there or when he decided to become a solicitor. His boss bounds into his world in a hilarious over bearing dominance superbly played by the highly talented Naveed Khan. His energy and excitability engage the audience from the off and his unpredictability keep our anticipation level’s topped up not quite knowing if his next words will be praise or a threat with impeccable comic timing.

“Sometimes I want to punch you in the mouth because you’re so damn good.”

Polysemous word play is well used throughout the show to comic effect and an engaging manner at times verging on the absurd. The cast use this and the physical work fantastically together and this is the real strength of the play as a whole. Whilst not in the most central of characters all the cast have moments of brilliance be it Amelia Cavallo’s showing-off little boy or Laura Rugg’s murdering millionaire. The lighting was subtle and just right for the needs of the play.

This play is all about the importance of time and in the ensuing court case time is tried for criminal actions such as it “sped up your happiness and dragged out your misery”. Our solicitor Mr. String argues the case and time is found guilty and sent down. The world without time transcends into chaos, from the young boy who has a birthday everyday and finds them boring and hateful to the graveyard museum full of time past. The theme of Time is one that has been explored in plays and of course poetry for centuries. The Ravens play is a fresh and original take on a timeless necessity of life.

                   “Who is the one person who witnesses everything?” asks Mr. String. “Time. “

Whilst thoroughly engaged in the world of Mr. String I could not help being reminded of some of the great poetry that explore the theme of Time like Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 60, “Like as the Waves” and it is for this reason I can see this production working brilliantly as a full length production in theatres aimed at students across the country as an introduction to these great works and ultimately some of the most important lessons of life. Fringe theatre is all about trying out new productions to see if they have further life elsewhere. “The Untimely Death of Mr. String” most definitely has potential to transfer as a successful full length play with a few changes that lengthening the play would allow. It is important that we discover more about the wife so that we may move from glimpses of her on the peripheral of the play where she could be anyone to being more central, because the audience will love anyone, but only when they are someone. Mrs String is expertly played by the enchanting Jade Allen who has a refreshingly playful energy and sense of fun which is a delight to watch. A full length production would give us opportunity to see more of her. Perhaps new scenes could include the relationship between Mr and Mrs String and the importance of time in their relationship, anniversaries, the young couple, the old couple, time apart, time together. Both characters certainly are worthy and interesting enough to warrant much more focus together.

The Welsh Shopkeeper, a conniving and eccentric old man executed superbly by the versatile Cullum is a wonderful character and I would like to see him used more. He is the understated God of the show by keeping all the present/ past in his shop/ museum as time gets carried away into nothingness. What I loved about this man was his cheekiness and the realistic quality that Cullum brought to the part.

The importance is to make it relevant to an audience now and engage in a thought-provoking journey that makes you question your own life and make you laugh. Raven Theatre Company tick all boxes here. Brilliant. The action was superbly executed with the precise mix of comedy and life reflections that makes a good play first rate. Massive congratulations to all involved and I thoroughly recommend you buy your tickets now.

Continues until 24th August 2011 daily at 9pm.

www.raventheatrecompany.co.uk

www.fruitionarts.co.uk

The Camden Fringe.

The Camden People's Theatre.