Indoor Fireworks

Indoor Fireworks
By Arthur MacRae. Blackwood Players. Blackwood Memorial Hall (SA). March 27-April 11, 2015

Blackwood Players’ production of Arthur MacRae’s comedy of manners, Indoor Fireworks succeeds reasonably well, despite struggling against the impediments of basic set and lighting together with the limitations of the cavernous Blackwood Memorial Hall.

Chris Barry is a divorced actor who invites a star-struck reporter to a weekend stay at her English country home in order for the reporter to write a story about her life. When Chris’s family members and former husband also arrive and Chris’s mother comes down with a mystery illness, Chris’s life, together with that of others, takes amusingly complicated twists and turns.

On opening night, despite a late start for the show and an introduction taking place in virtual darkness, the actors tried their hardest.

As Chris, Anita Pipprell employs the sophisticated, chatty and witty style of acting one might expect for a comedy of manners (particularly if this were a Noel Coward play, perhaps). Her energy is excellent and she is by far the standout performer. Most others within the cast don’t use this acting style though and so, in contrast, Pipprell’s performance may have been seen by some in the audience as over-acting, which is unfortunate.

Emma Cook is also very good as Mrs Barry, Chris’s mother. Jabez Retallick produces a strong performance as Chris’s brother Teddy, although he suffers the issue true to other actors involved in the production, of not really pulling off the upper-crust English voice and mannerisms.

Scott Brokenshire is a little stiff in his portrayal of the other Barry sibling, reluctant bridegroom Peter. Myf Davis does well as Eleanor, Peter’s resentful and disillusioned newly-wed bride.

Heather Crawford is delightfully perfect as the gushy, overawed and love-struck reporter Miss Benbow and Daniel Stacey impresses as Chris’s ex-husband Pat Swanson.

As Ian Yore, Angus MacGillivray’s performance is quite good, though he is perhaps miscast in the age group referred to in the script. Lorelle Pfeiffer is suitably imperious as Lady Yore but could be much more intimidating if she developed more light and shade in her performance. Deb Jeffries is funny as the maid Cissy, but is let down by using a broad Australian accent rather than perhaps Cockney.

There seems to be an inordinate amount of upstaging in this production, possibly due to the angle of furniture placement onstage. Suffice to say, in the large Memorial Hall, speaking upstage places actors at greater risk of not being heard than possibly in many other venues. Director Damien White should consider this issue, which is emphasised for those not seated centrally in the hall.

This play is clearly meant to be set in a comfortable home, one with rich furnishings and so on. One wonders why Blackwood Players would choose the play, pay such commendable attention to detail in its costuming, yet not try a little harder to reflect the play’s era and style in the production’s set. Either a fully dressed box set, or even a sophisticated yet totally minimalist one with reflections of the thirties era, would be a better choice than just unspecific-period-style furniture on stage.

Over many years, most South Australian amateur companies have developed a reputation for excellent sets, front of house work and technical expertise. Blackwood Players is not currently achieving this and I urge the enthusiastic group to consider putting as much commendable emphasis on these important areas as they currently appear to be investing in producing plays rather than only revues. Audience enjoyment and peer perception of a theatre company are always enhanced by attention to such detail. A box office open for business on audience arrival, starting shows on time (influenced partly by a timely box office), attention to sets that either in complex or minimalist form match play choice, together with some sophistication in lighting and other technical areas, go a long way towards staging a satisfying amateur production.

In many ways Blackwood Players have come a long way in the past few years and being brave enough to stage Indoor Fireworks is a reflection of that. It’s pleasant and enjoyable, but with a bit more work could have been so much better.

Lesley Reed

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