The Pierglass - A Theatrical Extravaganza

Date: Saturday 8 December 2007

If you happen to read this review and happen to be free tonight - Saturday December 8th - you really should try to get to the St Edmund's School Theatre, and enjoy the experience of Tim Norton's 'The Pierglass', first performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994, when it won a 'Fringe First Award'.

This is a thoroughly professional production in every respect - glossy programme, filled with cast photographs; glorious costumes, designed by Jan Keliris; skilful lighting and pure sound; a multi-changing simply effective set - look out for the convertible cart!; and, highly imaginative direction, as ever, from Richard Parsons and Liz Sears.

This is a traditional Victorian melodrama, combining the behind the scenes life of a touring theatre company, visiting the south coast town of Porchester, with a repertoire of 'The Scottish Play', 'The Dane', and 'Romeo and Juliet, with life in the 'big house', where an heiress lies incarcerated by her evil stepmother and her conniving 'London' lawyer. A legacy of £150,000 is at stake should the heiress marry - or die.

The whole cast gave outstanding performances on the second night, with Oliver Jones memorable as the manager of the theatre company, as were Jamie Tutt as the aspiring, but as yet loveless Romeo, Emma Wink, exuding 'evil' as she denies her stepdaughter access to the outside world, Sandy Wardrop as the avaricious legal adviser, and Arabella Pemberton, as the heiress's sympathetic lady's maid.

In short, another triumph for the Parsons - Sears direction, which certainly amused and entertained the playwright, Tim Norton, who honoured us with his presence in the Friday audience. Thanks for coming, Tim! - and if others cannot make it tonight, then think about the JS production of 'The King and I' (March 2008), or 'A Night with the Stars' (Monday June 30th 2008)

All photos: copyright Thomas Hooley 2007