'City of Champions' by Stephen Brown

Cast of Champions.

Cast, left to right : Amy Burke, Joel Arnold, Joe Southall, Steve Brown (writer and director), Ellie Ward, Maggie Robson and Ian McCurrach.

Saturday August 5, 2017.

I had a thoroughly amazing time watching the final night of City of Champions, at the London Theatre Workshop. 

The play took us through a roller coaster of emotions; some funny and humourous highs to some very dark and emotional lows. 

London Theatre Workshop.

The cast were superb and really brought the characters to life with great dialogue and wonderful chemistry. 

I find myself fortunate to have seen this play twice and to have seen it grow from those first early drafts, some six years ago.

Review: 'Assassins' by Stephen Sondheim

"Everybody's got the right to some sunshine."

Tuesday 27th March, 2012 - They're Coming

My friend Steve B, and I, headed to the 'Pleasance Theatre', London, to see Stephen Sondheim's, Assassins.

The play explores nine of the twenty-odd attempts on the life of US Presidents, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, Jr. Instead of focusing on the assassinations, the play strives to understand the assassins, and their reasons for attempting to, and sometimes succeeding to, assassinate US Presidents, climaxing in a 'dreamlike' sequence, in which Lee Harvey Oswald is surrounded by the assassins of the past and future, who convince him that he is the key to connecting them all as one.

"Free Country, means a right to expect, that you'll have an effect."

The play begins with the song 'Everybody's got the right', in which we meet the nine assassins. Each assassin is 'issued' a gun and, after they have been given ammunition, they take aim at the audience as 'Hail to the Chief' is played. At this point John Wilkes Booth excuses himself and a shot rings out, and Booth is heard, off stage, saying 'Sic semper tyrannis.' The scene then changes to that of Booth, with a broken leg, hiding out in a barn, trying to right down his reasons for the assassination. His story is told with 'The ballad of Booth', by the 'Balladeer'.

We then see the male assassins. Charles Guiteau toasts the Presidency, John Hinckley, Jr breaks a bottle and Leon Czolgosz loses his temper. Guiseppe Zangara complains about stomach pains and Booth tells him that, in order to cure his pain, he should shoot President Roosevelt. The radio then announces Zangara's failed assassination attempt, and we are introduced to five bystanders, who sing, 'How I saved Roosevelt'. Czolgosz sings from his 'electric chair' but is annoyed that there are no cameras.

Sarah Jane Moore and Lynette Fromme meet on a park bench, with Fromme spouting out the teachings of her lover, Charles Manson. Moore goes over her life history, real and imagines, until both women connect with hatred for their fathers. They then shoot a bucket of KFC, before laughing hysterically about the fact that they both know Charles Manson from different times.

Czolgosz, Booth, Guiteau and Moore all join in a barbershop quartet and sing, 'The gun song', in which Czolgosz decides that he will kill President McKinley. While the Balladeer sings 'The ballad of Czolgasz', Czolgasz meets President McKinley and assassinates him.

We then meet Samuel Byck who, dressed in a dirty Santa suit, is talking into a tape recorder and recording his thoughts about crashing an aeroplane into the White House, in order to kill President Nixon.

John Hinckley is then seen sitting on a stool, trying to play a guitar as Fromme enters. She spies a picture of Jodie Foster and teases Hinckley about it, by pulling out a picture of Manson and singing 'Unworthy of your love'. A picture of President Reagan appears and Hinckley shoots it. Missing each time, the Proprietor mocks Hinckley with Reagan quips.

Charles Guiteau is giving shooting tips to Sarah Jane Moore and tells her that he is to be the next Ambassador to France. Moore rebuffs his flirting attempts and the scene changes to a train station and Guiteau meets President Garfield. Guiteau believes he will be made Ambassador to France, because of a speech that Guiteau wrote for President Garfield. Guiteau is mocked by Garfield, who Guiteau promptly shoots. We then see Guiteau going to the gallows with the show-stopping number, 'The ballad of Guiteau'.

Moore and Fromme meet to assassinate President Ford and, much to Fromme's dismay, Moore has brought her son and her dog, which she shoots accidentally, along. An argument ensues and they drop their guns as President Ford enters. Not recognising him, until it's too late, they have no recourse but to throw the bullets at him, shouting 'bang' as they do.

Byck records another message to President Nixon, as he is on his way to the airport to hijack an aeroplane to crash into the White House.

The assassins meet up and try to understand why their dreams haven't been met. The balladeer tries to make them see that there are other ways to achieve their dreams. The song, 'Another National Anthem' plays and the assassins sing it louder and louder until the Balladeer is forced off stage.

The scene changes to that of a sixth-storey store room in the Texas School Book Depository. Lee Harvey Oswald is about to kill himself, but is interrupted by Booth. Scaring Oswald with information of his past, Booth tries to convince Oswald to make a difference by assassinating President Kennedy, rather than killing himself. From the sides of the stage, the other assassins all appear and, as one, try to convince Oswald, that if he kills President Kennedy, they will all become one in history. Oswald takes the rifle from Booth and moves towards the window. Taking aim, he fires, as the assassins sing, 'November 22nd, 1963'.

After the assassinations, the bystanders tell where they were when the President died with the song, 'Something just broke'.

The assassins regroup one more time for the reprise of 'Everybody's got the right'.

End

At just over 90 minutes, the show is a perfect length and that the cast were brilliant. It was really interesting to see how such dark parts of American history can be made into such a thought-provoking stage play and musical. The set was incredible and deserves to be seen by as many theatre goers as possible, as does the play. Ray Rackham has put together a clever and versatile group of actors, who have each put in 100%, which shows on stage. Even though everyone gave a sterling turn, a few actors did, for me, stand out.

Martin Dickinson, as John Wilkes Booth, was absolutely brilliant. His presence drew your attention every time he took to the stage and, from seeing his list of credits, I can understand why.

Brandon Force was mesmerising, with his extroverted portrayal, of Charles Guiteau, which was fresh and not too over the top.

Alexander Forsyth, as Leon Czolgasz, gave a supremely introverted display as the man who believes that killing the President will change everyone's lives.

Bronwyn Baud gave an absolutely entertaining portrayal as Sarah Jane Moore.

2ND COMPANY PRODUCTIONS

ASSASSINS

MUSIC & LYRICS BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM

BOOK WRITTEN BY JOHN WEIDMAN

DIRECTOR RAY RACKHAM

CHOREOGRAPHER CHRIS WHITTAKER

MUSICAL DIRECTOR JOE BUNKER

ASSASSINS runs from 21 March - 7 April 2012

at

THE PLEASANCE THEATRE

ISLINGTON

On Wednesday 28th March 2012, Jonathan Ross made this 'tweet'

jonathan ross ‏ @wossy

Just home from watching Sondheim's Assassins at the Pleasance Theatre. Great show and it's on for 2 more weeks. Grab your tickets now!

FInd out what everyone else thought of the show.

Review: 'Company' by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth

My copy of the programme signed by Mr Stephen Brown.

Sunday 5th December, 2010.

My friend, Steve Brown, has recently been rehearsing with a group called 'Second Company' for a play called 'Company' by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, and I was going to see it with Emma and Len's Emma. 

Steve plays the role of Larry, a 50 something man, the third husband of Joanne, played by Joyce Lorinstein. This run is directed by Ray Rackham and, after sell out performances earlier in the year, has transferred to the 'Stage Space' at the 'Pleasance Theatre'. 

I have seen Steve Brown in 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Judgement at Nuremberg', the latter of which was his directorial debut, and I have also seen him on TV for Channel 5's 'David Jason: The Show Must Go On!'

'Company' is a musical comedy, set in New York, that first premiered in 1970. The play is centred on the central character of Robert, a 35 year old single man, via his 3 girlfriends and his married or soon-to-be married friends. Robert has hit a point in his life where he cannot commit to a long-term relationship and looks to his friends for guidance. 

The 'Stage Space' is a small area with enough room to fit a maximum of 50 people, while the stage area itself is about twenty feet square. The use of the small stage space, was accomplished very well with the use of two clear plastic chairs and a leather bench. 

The cast, when not in the scene, sat at the sides until their turn in the play. It worked really well and at times I felt that I was actually in an apartment or on the bridge with the cast. It was an almost intimate feeling, as though they were playing just to me. 

I have to see say that I was really impressed with the show from the opening song, 'Company', to the last number, 'Being Alive'. The whole cast were superb with two stand-out performances from Robin Innes and Lowri-Ann Davies. Robin gave a sterling performance as Robert. While Lowri-Ann gave a truly remarkable performance as Amy. (Her very fast rendition of 'Getting Married Today' was incredible.) 

All-in-all it was well worth seeing and I can't wait until the next play that I go and see. Below is a link to a review of the show.

www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=6342

Until next time, May it be well with you.

Review: 'Judgement at Nuremberg'

'Judgement at Nuremberg' was a play put on by the 'Argosy Players' at the 'Compass Theatre', Ickenham, from 6th-9th October, 2010. 

It was directed by Mr Steve Brown.

The play concerns the trial of four German Judges by three American Judges in Occupied Germany in 1948.

The play began with a short video of the original Nuremberg trials, over which a speech gave an account of the trials and the sentences. The German Judges are accused of Nazi 'Sterilization' and 'Cleansing' Policies and 'War Crimes'. They are Werner Lammpe, Frederick Hoffstetter, Emil Hahn and Dr Ernst Janning. All but one of the Judges plead 'Not Guilty' as Dr Ernst Janning declares that he does not recognise the power of this court. The task of presiding over this trial falls to Judge Dan Haywood and the two Judges who preside with him, Judge Ken Norris and Judge Curtis Ives. Colonel Tad Parker, the prosecutor, makes an opening statement that depicts the defendants as having been willing, accomplices in Nazi atrocities. He is matched by Defense Attorney, Oscar Rolfe, who counters each argument and objection.

It is during an argument between Colonel Tad Parker and Oscar Rolfe that Dr Ernst Janning decides that he can't remain silent and, while still under oath, makes an emotional and heartfelt speech that highlights that the defendants had to make a choice between allegiance to their country and allegiance to their own sense of right and wrong. Even when they realised that Hitler was wrong they still did nothing. This speech damns the defendants. During the closing arguments, Colonel Tad Parker shows some footage from the Liberation of one concentration camp. The shot of bulldozers pushing hundreds of bodies in to pits will stay with me for a while, I think. After the closing arguments, Judge Dan Haywood passes his Judgement and sentences all four to Life imprisonment.

The entire play left me thinking. Thinking about who was really to blame:

Adolf Hitler. Winston Churchill. The Americans. The Vatican. Or was everyone to blame in there own way?!

Stand-out performances for me were, in no particular order:

Glenn Brentnall as Judge Dan Haywood.

Angus Patrick as Colonel Tad Parker.

Andi Tucker as Oscar Rolfe.

Les Broude as Dr Karl Wickert.

Helen Main as Frau Margarete Bertholt.

Tom Hartwell as Rudolph Peterson.

Steve Brown as Dr Ernst Janning.

Stand-out scenes for me were:

The cross examination of Rudolph Peterson by Oscar Rolfe.

Tom Hartwell really pulled off an amazing bit of acting as the man 'Sterilized' on the orders of the accused because his mother was 'feeble-minded.'

The argument between Parker and Rolfe.

This scene was so highly charged that I had the feeling that the two actors, Angus Patrick and Andi Tucker, really meant and believed in what they were saying.

Dr Ernst Janning's speech.

The scene where Dr Ernst Janning finally gives in and makes his impassioned speech, whilst under oath, was superbly and emotionally delivered. The conviction with which Steve Brown delivered his lines held the entire audience.

I came away from this play forgetting that I had just watched an 'amateur' production.

Of the cast I can only say,

'You were exceptional.'

As for the set and back stage crew,

'Keep up the good work.'

And to the Director, Steve Brown, I say,

'For a directorial début, this was incredible. I can't wait to see your next piece of work.'