Camden New Journal - Theatre: Enoch Arden in the Hope Shelter

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The Review - THEATRE by MARK BROWN
Published: 28 June 2007

An expression of poetry and passion

ENOCH ARDEN IN THE HOPE SHELTER
Rosemary Branch

FEW will know the story of Tennyson’s classic poem Enoch Arden. And Footpath productions version will not enlighten the many who are in the dark.
Not that it’s bad. There are many good things to say about almost every area of the production. The dialogue is rife with humorous lines and poignant moments. It is poetic throughout but too quickly becomes overwhelming, a bit purposeless and, particularly in the beginning, exposition heavy.
Maria Lamont’s direction helps matters by keeping the staging lively and rarely static. The performances are top notch, with Mueller-Heaslip managing to wrestle emotion out of the smallest of facial expressions.
But special mention must go to Johnny Vivash, who is given the unenviable task of learning all of Jabbers ramblings, over an hour’s worth of constant dialogue, and he does so with aplomb.
There isn’t enough at stake for the piece to work as drama, but it does succeed as an expression of the passion, importance and complexity of music and poetry in the character’s lives.
Until July 8
020 7704 6665

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