Sonata Movements at the Blue Elephant Theatre
ConcertTheatre, founded by An-Ting Chang, combine orchestra and
performance. In their production Sonata
Movements music is not just atmospheric underscore, it
becomes another language expressed by the pianist (An-Ting Chang) -
a voice and character in its own right, spoken alongside the actos
on the same stage. The four short plays which make up the four
movements of this sonata differ greatly in style, form and era, but
their recurring themes and imagery accumulate to tell a resounding
story of love, pain, loneliness and companionship in human lives
from beginning to end.
1. ABORTIVE by Caryl Churchill and Franz Schubert Sonata D. 960 Mv.I
Originally written for radio, this early Churchill play depicts the lifeless relationship of a married couple. Raped by Billy - an acquaintance who was really a stranger, Roz (Tiffany Wood) decided to have an abortion. This experience has changed her life and her relationship to Colin (Mark Denham). The piano forms an impentetrable barrier between the two actors as they sit side by side in bed. Roz and Colin yearn for a sense of oneness but, like the Schubert sonata, they are thrown helplessly into anguished confusion by the inescapable pain of the world and their own instinctive responses to it. The music perfectly reflects and emphasizes the pain and loneliness of the two characters. Sometimes the piano drowns out the voices of the actors but this does not harm the performance as the music speaks its own language.
2. OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS by Kenneth Emson and Frédéric Chopin Nocture Op.9 Nr. 2, Ballade Op. 38, Concerto Op. 22 Mv. III
Sylvia (Mary Sheen), an elderly lady, lives all by herself. Her home is her castle and becomes more and more like a prison with each repetition of Chopin's nocturne. One day, a boy (Darren Douglas -Letts) walks into her garden to retrieve a ball and detects Sylvia watching him from her window. Although Sylvia complains about him and his muddy footprints on her beautiful lawn, a bond seems to be growing between them. William discovers a form of communication that is fleeting but precious, a memory to be cherished by both of them once William moves away: "Whenever I think of the garden I think of the old lady." The story is told in a very touching way without being sentimental. Mary Sheen plays her character as a cheerful person despite her loneliness. Darren Douglas-Letts is charming and sweet as the young boy who overcomes all barriers to find a form of comunication with Sylvia.
3. PORTRAIT OF A LADY by T.S. Eliot - Sergei Prokofiev Sonata Op. 28 Prelude in E minor
4. SWAN SONG by Anton Chekhov Luwig van Beethoven Sonatas (Last Movements) Op. 81a, Op. 53, Op. 57, Op. 31 Nr. 3
By Carolin Kopplin
Photographs by Dougie Firth.
Dates
1. ABORTIVE by Caryl Churchill and Franz Schubert Sonata D. 960 Mv.I
How happy we are sometimes.
Originally written for radio, this early Churchill play depicts the lifeless relationship of a married couple. Raped by Billy - an acquaintance who was really a stranger, Roz (Tiffany Wood) decided to have an abortion. This experience has changed her life and her relationship to Colin (Mark Denham). The piano forms an impentetrable barrier between the two actors as they sit side by side in bed. Roz and Colin yearn for a sense of oneness but, like the Schubert sonata, they are thrown helplessly into anguished confusion by the inescapable pain of the world and their own instinctive responses to it. The music perfectly reflects and emphasizes the pain and loneliness of the two characters. Sometimes the piano drowns out the voices of the actors but this does not harm the performance as the music speaks its own language.
2. OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS by Kenneth Emson and Frédéric Chopin Nocture Op.9 Nr. 2, Ballade Op. 38, Concerto Op. 22 Mv. III
It's important that we have our own space.
Little areas fenced of f from everyone else.
Little areas fenced of f from everyone else.
Sylvia (Mary Sheen), an elderly lady, lives all by herself. Her home is her castle and becomes more and more like a prison with each repetition of Chopin's nocturne. One day, a boy (Darren Douglas -Letts) walks into her garden to retrieve a ball and detects Sylvia watching him from her window. Although Sylvia complains about him and his muddy footprints on her beautiful lawn, a bond seems to be growing between them. William discovers a form of communication that is fleeting but precious, a memory to be cherished by both of them once William moves away: "Whenever I think of the garden I think of the old lady." The story is told in a very touching way without being sentimental. Mary Sheen plays her character as a cheerful person despite her loneliness. Darren Douglas-Letts is charming and sweet as the young boy who overcomes all barriers to find a form of comunication with Sylvia.
3. PORTRAIT OF A LADY by T.S. Eliot - Sergei Prokofiev Sonata Op. 28 Prelude in E minor
You do not know what life is in you.
The energetic, racing heartbeat of the Prokofiev sonata
reflects the wild and passionate feelings that the protagonist
of Eliot's poem (James Northcote) is trying to suppress in his
encounter with a society lady who vows to sit patiently
drinking tea until he is ready to understand and provide her
with the friendship she is asking for. The return of
Chopin's music links this play to the two others with a
reminder that the relationship of two people cannot be reduced
to simple absolutes and how rarely we understand each
other. T.S. Eliot's beautiful language is a joy and
James Northcote conveys the enthusiasm and passion of his
character.
4. SWAN SONG by Anton Chekhov Luwig van Beethoven Sonatas (Last Movements) Op. 81a, Op. 53, Op. 57, Op. 31 Nr. 3
Where there is talent, old age ceases to
exist!
The elderly actor Svetlovidov (Jonathan Newth) wakes
up in an empty theatre, hung over and locked in. Exclaiming:
"What a farce. What a complete farce," he reminisces about his
life and decides that nobody needs him and nobody loves him any
more. Soon joined by the prompter Nikitushka (Joyce
Greenaway), who sleeps in the theatre to save money,
Svetlovidov alternates between extreme
self pity and proclaiming himself a great artist. His self
confidence grows to such an extent that he decides only his
voice should be heard - he orders the pianist to be quiet and
covers the piano. Like Beethoven, Chekhov's character
rages against the dying of his artistry. His posturing,
his sudden changes of mood and his appearance are ridiculous,
but so are we all. Jonathan Newth gives a beautiful perfomance
as the charismatic actor and we all forgave him for silencing
the pianist for a little while.
This is intriguing theatre. Please go see it!
This is intriguing theatre. Please go see it!
By Carolin Kopplin
Photographs by Dougie Firth.
Dates
- Tuesday 17 April - Saturday 5 May
- Time
- 8:00 pm
- Days of the week
- Tuesday - Saturday
- Ticket price
-
£13.00
£10.00 (concessions)
£9.00 (southwark residents)
£9.00 (Previews Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 April )
- Tickets
-
Available online from
-
Post-show discussions: Wednesdays 25 April & 2 May
-
Blue Elephant Theatre
59a Bethwin Rd
(entrance in Thompson's Ave)
Camberwell
London
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