Thorington Open Air Theatre – Sunday afternoon – Guest Review by Suzanne Hawkes
So where better to watch Sunday in The Park with George than Sunday in the forest with – well George of course, a brilliant collection of actors and musicians and a very engaged and appreciative audience.
Since this was the second of only two performances of this, one of Sondheim’s most complex of musicals, in this space – this is as much a review of Thorington Theatre as it is of this fabulous production.
This was my first time in this incredible open air theatre and it is stunning. Created within a WWII bomb crater in the middle of a pine forest it is every bit as magical as you would imagine – a wooden amphitheatre embedded within the trees – some of which remain part of the space. Due to our inclement and unpredictable weather the orchestra are nestled under two gazebos – but the rest of the stage and the audience are open to the elements.
SEDOS stands for Stock Exchange Dramatic & Operatic Society. Founded in London in 1905 they are dedicated to amateur theatre although aim for a professional standard.
Thorington is well suited to a large cast production – and SEDOS made the most of their amateur status by not stinting on the number of performers in the cast. There are 27 including the magnificent leads Will de Renzy-Martin playing George and Sadie Kempner as his muse & lover Dot. The company use the space to good effect – utilising the various levels of the arena to paint living portraits of the artists work amongst the audience – and at significant times to recreate a whole painting on stage.
The show is a look at French artist Georges Seurat’s life and work but not in huge autographical detail. It’s more about his influences, the way he put paint to canvass and his innovative way of looking at colour and light. But also at the centre of the story is his relationship with Madeleine Knobloch – who was his model and muse as well as giving him two sons. He died at the age of 31 and sold no paintings in his lifetime. But the technique he developed had much influence on the movements of Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism.
The first act is set in 1884 as Georges is working on what was probably his greatest painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The second Act is set in 1984 at an exhibition curated by his great grandson.
This show was said to be the one Sondheim was most proud of. It’s in some ways typical of him. The score is tricky, the show stopping numbers thin on the ground and its at times quite repetitive. And if you are not a Sondheim fan it can be hard going in some places. Sondheim likes to make both his actors and his audience work for their pleasure!
But it is worth the effort. George is sufficiently awkward and obtuse with a good stage presence. Dot is a still but powerful foil to his difficult character. The company put their all into their various supporting rolls. And the orchestra led by Isaac Bartels, including a harp, a horn and a synthesiser, are magnificent.
If I was being picky – I felt the costumes needed a little more work in places, and at times the sound coming through the microphones was a bit muddy.
But this was on the whole a very enjoyable production, made more so by the setting.
There are plenty more events in the packed summer programme to attend including G&S The Gondoliers, Sleeping Beauty and family show Five Children & It . It’s easy to get to by car being just off the A12 with free parking. The seats are hard so take a cushion – and you can hire backrests which I would recommend. There’s a bar serving soft drinks and alcohol – and very friendly staff – so what’s not to like? I would recommend a visit.
For more details and what’s on at Thorington Theatre visit their Website
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