The theatre is chilly and darkish. The ambiance is desolate. A lone man is mendacity inclined on the ground within the centre of a cell delineated by a straw boundary with solely a single wood bench inside it. The chilly draft that wafts by means of the open doorways provides to the ambiance of a darkish, damp and chilly jail cell. A easy but efficient set. Even his drab costume of soiled and torn woolen rags is ideal in its Victorian austerity. This is certainly Isaac Fagin’s final hourbefore he’s led to the gallows. And we’re privileged to be…
Rating
Excellent
A darkish but riveting efficiency that may linger lengthy after the hour has drawn to a detailed.
The theatre is chilly and darkish. The ambiance is desolate. A lone man is mendacity inclined on the ground within the centre of a cell delineated by a straw boundary with solely a single wood bench inside it. The chilly draft that wafts by means of the open doorways provides to the ambiance of a darkish, damp and chilly jail cell. A easy but efficient set. Even his drab costume of soiled and torn woolen rags is ideal in its Victorian austerity.
This is certainly Isaac Fagin’s final hourbefore he’s led to the gallows. And we’re privileged to be the voyeurs of his musings, as he all of a sudden rises in a match of tension realizing his time is drawing to a detailed. For those that have learn or watched Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist the sequence of occasions which have led to Fagin’s predicament might be well-known. And for those who haven’t, then the monologue which follows paints the image in vivid element. If you’re a purist, brace your self for some minor inventive edits to among the occasions. But on the entire, it’s true to the storyline and the variations don’t detract from the efficiency. Rather they serve to reinforce Fagin’s frenzy.
It is a wonderful one man present. James Hyland as Fagin brings to life the Dickensian villain spectacularly. He walks the viewers by means of a flashback of occasions that introduced his up to now in Fagin’s life, bookended with quick scenes and the decision from the courtroom room. We are sat riveted to each phrase as he strikes across the delineated jail cell like a caged animal. Using dramatic gestures, depth and tone of voice he transforms earlier than our very eyes into a number of characters.
All the same old suspects are there for the viewers’s delectation together with the Artful Dodger, Sikes and Nancy. Hyland masterfully switches between every character with such ease that the viewers hardly notices it. Without even a phrase, however only a signature pose the viewers is aware of precisely who’s within the room at any given time. Interestingly, Oliver, although often talked about, just isn’t a kind of portrayed.
The lighting is easy however efficient, solely enhancing the extra intense scenes corresponding to Nancy’s demise. Yet with out it the feelings and sound results projected by Hyland would nonetheless be highly effective sufficient to face on their very own. As the hour attracts nearer, and his story involves a frenzied finish, he begs and pleads for mercy and understanding. He is certain that the hour spent justifying his deeds would flip even the coldest of hearts.
‘We are all thieves…even you sir’ — Faginclaims, pointedly one man within the viewers, then turning to a different to disclaim any wrongdoing and justifying his innocence proper earlier than he’s dragged away from his cell. And actually the viewers is difficult pressed to not really feel one thing for the rouge. This is a riveting efficiency that may linger for for much longer than an hour!
Adapted by: James Hyland
Based on the novel ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens
Directed by: Phil Lowe
Produced by: Brother Wolf
Music: Chris Warner
Fagin’s Last Hour performs at White Bear Theatre till 21 January 2021. Further info and bookings could be discovered right here.