A Promenade of Shorts – Season 2

A Promenade of Shorts – Season 2 is the follow up to the original, presented in 2020 as a way to showcase a variety of plays that would not normally be seen due to their length (about 10 minutes).

The presentation of this production is fascinating. The audience is divided into three groups, each with their own ‘keeper’. Ours was the Governess, whose job it is to guide us through the three venues and ensure we behave. (If we didn’t, there was a threat of public Bible reading.)

We then travel from venue to venue (The Bar, The Studio and The Arch) watching three plays in each venue with two intervals to rest and refresh.

While this sounds fraught with timing problems, it isn’t, thanks to the inventiveness of Red Pheonix Theatre. During the intervals the three groups come to a central area (all within five minutes of each other). As an audience member, during the intervals, I couldn’t wait to ask someone from another venue what was coming up!

With nine productions to cast, a director team of Joh Hartog, Libby Drake, Nick Fagan and Hayley Horton, a stage manager team of Kate Anolak, Jamie Wright, and Jan Farr plus sound operators and lighting designers, this concept must have been a nightmare to organise.

The three plays for my first round are – The Last Time We Saw Her by Jane Anderson, an insightful look into gay acceptance in the workplace, sensitively and honestly handled, featuring Geoff Revell and Lyn Wilson, Free Activity Period by Joyce Grenfell, played by Emily Branford with stoic Joyce Grenfell-like demeanour, and A Hot Brick! by Uma Incrocci, a delightful study of innocence and youth versus wisdom and experience, featuring Petra Schulenburg and Finty McBain, both actors giving intelligent interpretations of seemingly simple yet complex characters.

After an interval to refresh, my second round is – The Processional by Robert D. Kemnitz & Jennifer McMaster, featuring Rebecca Kemp, Jackson Barnard, Laura Antoniazzi, Tom Tassone and Brittany Gallasch in an hysterical wedding rehearsal that goes wrong with memorable bible readings and a summation that has us in tears. The second play abruptly changes the mood. Confession by Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller, an interrogation of a child murderer complete with surprise ending, featuring intense performances by Stuart Pearce, John Rosen & Joanne St Clair. Lastly, The Chip by Michael Higgins, an absurd comedy about a woman in a romance who has a chip implanted in her brain, and who advertises products when triggered by certain words, featuring Claire Keen and Nick Fagan.

Another short interval to refresh and catch up with other audience members and I’m off to the last offerings for the evening - Captain Rockets Versus the Inter-Galactic Brain Eaters by Don Nigro, a telling look at a children’s TV show, on and off air, featuring Brant Eustice, Malcolm Walton, Cheryl Douglas & Jack Robins in an absorbing play that could do with a little trimming in the early sections. Breakout by Tom Moran featuring Anita Zamberlan Canala, Rosie Williams, James Fazzalari, Sharon Malujlo & Russell Slater, is a look into big business and how it diversifies to stay afloat. This is a spoof on breakout groups with a difference brilliantly played by Malujlo as ‘Claw’ the mercenary working for a children’s educational publisher. Finally, Brian’s Got Talent by David Miller featuring Jack Robins and Jenny Allan, is a touching portrait for what’s important as the years progress, skilfully handed.

A diverse collection of plays. Everyone will have their favourites, the audience certainly did. I particularly enjoyed Revell and Wilson’s handling of the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A+ themes in The Last Time We Saw Her, the minister’s summation (Rebecca Kemp) and Bible readings (Tom Tassone and Brittany Gallasch) from The Processional, the brilliant performance of Brant Eustice as a washed up drunken children’s TV personality aided by his co-star Cheryl Douglas (looking like a yellow Wiggle) in Captain Rockets Versus the Inter-Galactic Brain Eaters and Sharon Malujlo’s sinister ‘Claw’ in Breakout.

A Promenade of Shorts – Season 2 is engrossing theatre in delightfully sized bites! A clever and extremely entertaining night for first time theatre goers or those of us that have been fans for years!.

Barry Hill