February 20, 200718 yr Thanks for bringing that over BYM&M's. Particularly loving the last 2 paragraphs with such high praise for Will. The mix of restraint, timing and emotional release in the final chapter are critical and it is hard to see how Diana Hardcastle and Will Young could have bettered this exacting passage. The audience was genuinely moved as their weaknesses unravelled, realisation struck and they finally clung to each other longing for the love and security they both so desperately seek. This was a triumphant final Act and an overall performance that would have a done many a West End theatre proud! For Will Young it has clearly been an intense, demanding but ultimately rewarding experience that bodes well for future theatre opportunities. Ironically his weakest moments were when he played the piano and thinly accompanied Rhiannon Oliver in her role as the singer Clara Hibbert. That aside he was convincing and at times compelling as the flawed hero well matched to the masterly skills of the experienced actress Diana Hardcastle. This was a memorable performance of a play that still has so much to say about society and the frailty of the human condition. Let's hope last night's meeting was about another theatre opportunity. Must copy this one for the scrapbook. :D :D
February 20, 200718 yr The Vortex at The Royal Exchange in Manchester did not disappoint. Set on a dazzling ‘in the round’ set of black and white spirals with pneumatically managed circular stages that rose and fell for each major change of scene, a convincing cast performed to the hilt to a full matinee audience in this unique theatre setting. For those who have never been to the Royal Exchange it is an undoubted treat. Set as a freestanding performance space, that echoes the design of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, it lies like a tardis in the middle of the colonnades of the old Corn Exchange in the heart of Manchester’s shopping district. The building is a beautiful blend of old and new and provided an ideal setting for this most provocative of Coward dramas. In the last edition of Home Chat I tried to set into context the harsher comments from critics about this first venture into professional theatre for Will Young. Well harsh I think they were! His first appearance in Act one as Nicky Lancaster is more prodigal ‘mummy’s boy’ than ‘camp’- the accusation of the more savage reviews. He is a sight! By that I mean he enters larger than life in enormous Oxford bags, sleeveless Fair Isle and braces like an overblown prodigal Sebastian Flyte exhilarated to be home after a year away. From that point on he convinces, as do the entire cast. The direction of the action, the design and lighting made the most of the circular staging and allowed a comfortable intimacy with the players. From the first entry of the sardonic butler, Preston, to the histrionics of the final act the actors held us all. David Fielder as ‘Pauncie’ is a convincing ‘devil on the shoulder’ of Florence mincingly tempting her to even greater foolishness with young men whilst the voice of her conscience, Helen, played with thorough sensibility by Alexander Mathie does her utmost to get her to see sense in the madness of the world she has created. Helen by her dress and demeanour should reflect the sensible nature of her being with just a touch of the sneaking admiration that underpins her friendship with Florence so it was hard to see why in Act one this needed to be exaggerated to the extent of looking like a warder in Cell Block H – but this is nitpicking! As the play progresses the tensions rise and the music, dancing and snatches of song hint at the emotional maelstrom that is to come. The monochrome set reinforces the starkness of the choices that have been made and the love that has been lost as Nicky and Florence move towards the final exposure of their weaknesses and the price they have paid. The mix of restraint, timing and emotional release in the final chapter are critical and it is hard to see how Diana Hardcastle and Will Young could have bettered this exacting passage. The audience was genuinely moved as their weaknesses unravelled, realisation struck and they finally clung to each other longing for the love and security they both so desperately seek. This was a triumphant final Act and an overall performance that would have a done many a West End theatre proud! For Will Young it has clearly been an intense, demanding but ultimately rewarding experience that bodes well for future theatre opportunities. Ironically his weakest moments were when he played the piano and thinly accompanied Rhiannon Oliver in her role as the singer Clara Hibbert. That aside he was convincing and at times compelling as the flawed hero well matched to the masterly skills of the experienced actress Diana Hardcastle. This was a memorable performance of a play that still has so much to say about society and the frailty of the human condition. http://www.noelcoward.net/html/vortex_manchester.html Thanks so much for bringing this over BYm+m's. It's nice to know we're not the only ones to think the criticism from certain of the press was uncalled for. And this from the Noel Coward Society who after all are experts on Noel Coward .
February 20, 200718 yr Author Now that's a very special review as it's from the Noel Coward society itself, :yahoo: thanks for bringing it over BYM&M's.
February 20, 200718 yr Thanks for bringing it over - what a fantastic review - "mummy's boy/childlike " is how so many of our girls described how they perceived Nicky. This one, in particular, means so very much. Hope Will gets to see it - he'll be made up. :wub: Edited February 20, 200718 yr by munchkin
February 20, 200718 yr O/S update 20/02/07 THE VORTEX – MORE OF YOUR REVIEWS Will continues to wow audiences in Manchester with his lead role in The Vortex. Many of you are even notching up your second or third visit to the play but for those who’ve not checked him out yet, here are a few reviews from fans on the board. 'I know I am likely to be a little biased but I thought Will's performance of Nicky was perfectly judged and he should be very proud of himself' - laineyb 'Will exceeded all my expectations which after reading all the wonderful reports were very high. His performance was just brilliant and the final scene had me in tears. So very proud to be a fan of this wonderful, talented man' - Foo 'I can honestly say I never once saw Will, only Nicky on that stage' - Marilyn 'I'm so glad I went - FABULOUS - Will was excellent!' - Sweetest Feeling 'The whole cast were fantastic and Will's performance was clearly on a par with any of the experienced actors' - julie 4 will 'Can't really add much to my other review - except to say I'm completely bowled over by how good he is. All that wordy dialogue and as far as I could tell he never put a foot wrong. I'm so impressed with him' - badgirljo To read them all, check out this link on the FORUM
February 20, 200718 yr Thanks to Leswillron for finding them :dance: http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670933-S-2.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670946-S.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670957-S.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670963-S.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129671000-S.jpg Edited February 20, 200718 yr by BanYellowm+m's
February 20, 200718 yr Those pics are super love the stage set- thanks so much BYm+m's. :dance: Edited February 20, 200718 yr by chrysalis
February 20, 200718 yr Those pics are super love the stage set- thanks so much BYm+m's. :dance: Must be wonderful for you to see them chrysalis. Will help you visualise it all.
February 20, 200718 yr Those pics are super love the stage set- thanks so much BYm+m's. :dance: Must be wonderful for you to see them chrysalis. Will help you visualise it all. I forgot you have not seen it chrysalis...it does look stunning
February 20, 200718 yr Author Thanks for the updates and the pics, I love the play! roll on the 9th. :yahoo:
February 20, 200718 yr Aren't those pix great - what a cheeky beggar - and getting away with it too :lol: A blog review found by wow46k on Devoted: Don't know if this one has been posted, its from a blog (Rashbre Central) Noel Coward was 25 when he wrote "The Vortex" in 1924. In those days, the themes were sufficient to almost get the play closed down - with original reviews referring to it as 'a dustbin of a play'. There's sex and drugs but rock n' roll hadn't been invented so instead its piano and operetta. The production at Manchester's Royal Exchange used a modest adaptation of the original script, and it is quite interesting to see how 'unstated' a lot of the themes of the play are in the production and one realises how much the 'shockability' of modern audiences have moved along. We have the drug addled Nicky (played by Will Young) returning home from Paris. He is clearly a mixed up person, with what appears to be a sexual jealousy for the antics of his mother, Florence (played strongly by Diana Hardcastle), who is seeing someone Nicky's own age, behind the back of his starchy father. Florence's lover, the guardsman Tom (played by Sam Heughan) is an aloof individual who portrays hardly a care for Florence, who is still blinded by the sexual advances. Will Young's character of Nicky (originally portrayed by Noel Coward himself) appears fragile in some scenes and later becomes downright jittery, presumably a reaction to the drug taking. Young's portrayal of Nicky incorporates an ambiguous sexual unhappiness which may be a cause of the addiction. He has brought a "trial fiancée" back from Paris, Bunty, although this courtship scarcely lasts beyond the introductions as she finds a greater affinity for Tom. There's another love interest for his mother Florence too, her female friend Helen (played by Alexandra Mathie) seems to have a somewhat more than friendly longing to spend time with Florence, although that is also fairly understated in the way that the production operates. The crescendo of the piece takes place in a whirl of emotions between Florence and Nicky when they both make a pact to abstain from the things which have been pulling them into the vortex. We are left to speculate whether the emotionally unsatisfied mother can abstain from the charms of a supply of twenty-something lovers and whether the fractured Nicky can resist the chemical lure of cocaine. Well staged using a circular black and white set, good pacing and strong performances from the repertory cast. There was no embarrassment that Will Young was moving from his grounding in music to this theatrical piece and he stood up well as a full member of the cast delivering a strong performance. Kudos also to Bunty's stand-in, who did much more of an acted part than a reading. Altogether, an enjoyable evening, watching an interesting play in great surroundings Bit good this one too. :dance:
February 20, 200718 yr Must be wonderful for you to see them chrysalis. Will help you visualise it all. Yes it does TT. Wonderful set. Thanks for posting the blog Munchkin. The more I read of the "ordinary" reviews (i.e. not those of a few London-based so called theatre critics who have a different agenda) the more I know Will's doing something right. I really think one or two of the nastier reviewers should revisit, although, with their axes to grind, I doubt they'd still have a good word to say.
February 20, 200718 yr Thanks for bringing the latest review over munchkin. Great to have such a run of good ones. :D
February 20, 200718 yr Thanks for the latest review munchkin :yahoo: I thought you might like to see the pics enlarged chryrsalis...easier to see the set have added an extra pic of the stage. http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670933-M-2.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670946-M.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670957-M.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670963-M.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129670978-M.jpg http://zimnoch.smugmug.com/photos/129671000-M.jpg
February 20, 200718 yr I was in a theatre last Sunday and the set was very similar! I could almost imagine I was allready in Manchester and caught myself on thinking when Will will be coming on! :wub: Crazy, innit? :rolleyes:
February 20, 200718 yr Yes, last night and one before the last one!! :dance: Not too long to wait. Will miss you by a day I'm there on the Thursday.
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