'Haunting Julia' review

Malvern Festival Theatre

HAUNTING JULIA (Hall & Childs Ltd)

McFadden, Preston & O'Callaghan

It’s a joy to go to the theatre and see a lesser performed Alan Ayckbourn play, rather than the more popular, slightly outdated, revivals usually on offer and this week, Haunting Julia, is a real gem. Although it isn’t as frightening as The Woman In Black, it certainly has enough scares to qualify it as a thrilling ghost story.

Andrew Hall eloquently directs a superb cast of three who effortlessly deliver Ayckbourn’s dialogue heavy script with immense focus, while maintaining an impressive level of tension throughout proceedings. Duncan Preston, most famous for his work with Victoria Wood, is simply excellent in the role of Joe Lukin, the grieving father of his daughter, Julia, a musical genius who tragically died twelve years ago, at the age of nineteen. Soon after turning the site of her demise into a museum dedicated to her life, Joe begins to become aware of some unusual happenings, that he shares with his daughter’s ex-lover, Andy, perfectly played by the devilishly handsome, Joe McFadden, who’s delectable Scottish accent becomes the perpetual voice of reason. The arrival of a well-wishing psychic, quirkily characterised by Richard O’Callaghan, soon brings about a series of confessions and unnerving events that uncover the reason behind Julia’s death.

This is a wonderfully written and brilliantly performed piece of theatre that utilises the ghostly theme extremely well, while providing the perfect mix of comedy and drama. Trick or treat? Haunting Julie is a spookily perfect Halloween treat and runs until Saturday at Malvern Festival Theatre! Go and see it!

'The Handyman' review

Malvern Festival Theatre

THE HANDYMAN (Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre)

Timothy West as Romka

Acclaimed writer, Ronald Harwood, explores the unlikely but emotive subject of war crimes and genocide in his play The Handyman, which is enjoying a revival at Malvern Festival Theatre this week. No stranger to this delicate subject, Harwood, who won an Oscar for his screenplay, The Pianist, presents an excellent platform for morale debate with this story of an elderly, Ukranian-born, handyman living very simply among the affluence of the Home Counties, who is unexpectedly accused of horrendous war crimes. The handyman, Romka, pleads his innocence, with the support of his surrogate family who employ him and a female lawyer with a tenuous Jewish connection. As the evidence against him mounts, the protests of his actual innocence come in to question.

Timothy West stars as the accused handyman, Roman Kozachenko, giving the quality of performance you would expect from such a theatrical great. Caroline Langrishe and Adrian Lukis are perfectly detestable as the affluent, Mr and Mrs Field, who laughingly compare their middle class troubles to the atrocities of the holocaust, while often begrudging the inconvenience being caused them. Carolyn Backhouse wonderfully intimidates the Fields as the striking lawyer, Marian Stone, but is gently supportive of the accused during the interrogation by the stereotypical detectives, convincingly played by James Simmons and Anthony Houghton. The infamous Steven Berkoff evens makes an appearance, albeit on screen, as does the brilliant Vanessa Redgrave, who gives a stunning performance.

Joe Harmston’s direction was simply effective and contained some beautifully choreographed scene changes on Sean Cavanagh’s quite beautiful set. Despite the subject matter this play contained a fair amount of humour that helped lighten what could have been a very depressing tale. Although this may not be everyone’s idea of a fun night out, it is definitely thought provoking and worth seeing.

'Rough Justice' review

Malvern Festival Theatre

ROUGH JUSTICE (Tom Kinninmont Production)

Tom Conti with Elizabeth Payne as prosecuting counsel

A gripping moral dilemma is presented in Terence Frisby’s brilliantly written, courtroom drama, Rough Justice. Tom Conti stars in the role of the accused, James Highwood, a public figure who has admitted to killing his infant son. He has decided to defend himself on a plea of manslaughter instead of murder and as the story evolves we, the jury, are encouraged to challenge the law and British legal system. The premise of this play is an excellent one but it is flawed in the fact that the audience, who are integrated into proceedings, are privy to information imparted outside of the courtroom, meaning that the ‘jury’ are not making a judgement on the facts presented to them but the actual facts of the case, which are ultimately conflicting. Therefore the post-show ‘chat’ is irrelevant and actually unnecessary. This however, doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of the production.

Conti is suitably arrogant as the TV journalist, accused of the heinous crime, and gives an epic performance, although there is no need for him to play for laughs, as he does on occasion, when the script so cleverly does that, relieving high tension with vital humour. Royce Mills is suitably pompous as the judge but his performance is unfortunately marred but his dependence on whatever is on top of his desk that prevents him from addressing anyone for any length of time, a technique that considerably diminished the climatic ending. Carol Starks gives an honest and endearing performance as the accused’s wife and David Michaels is brilliant as their, slightly awkward, legal representative, while Simon Murray, Mary Lincoln and Shaun Morton give perfect cameos as expert witnesses. The greatest accolade, however, must go to Elizabeth Payne for her stunning portrayal of the prosecuting counsel. This is an incredibly wordy play and she never errs once in her delivery, keeping the pressure on, as her role demands, throughout the entire play, giving a truly magnificent performance.

The subject matter of this production is fascinating and interestingly challenges the current legal system and the ethical and moral view on mercy killing and euthanasia. Rough Justice is an enthralling and engaging drama that is well worth seeing.