 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Reviews
|
|||
|
|
Angels Among the TreesBy Jonathan Holloway It was probably the hottest night of the year so far. The audience perspired noticeably, programmes were used as makeshift fans and the ice-cream sellers were in great demand. Yet on stage we were watching the world premiere of a play which featured snowstorms, blizzards and people dying from hypothermia. Before long the theatregoers forgot about the heat and became engrossed in a startling new work which tests their understanding of humanity and tolerance to the maximum. Angels Among The Trees is essentially the fictional account of the real-life Donner Party, the American pioneers who left Missouri in 1846 to go west in search of a better life. But the play is much more than that: it's about cannibalism and the choice the survivors have to make as to whether they die or eat the only source of nourishment available to them. Angels Among The Trees examines the experience of individuals who subject themselves to extreme adversity in the hope of proving that the grass is greener elsewhere. The Donner family joined forces with other emigrants and set off on a 1,800 mile trek, hoping to reach California before winter. The 87 pioneers decided to take a short cut which adventurer Landsford Hastings claimed would save them hundreds of miles. But they missed a safe passage by one day and ran out of supplies. Only 42 of them survived.
On one hand it's a story of greed, people profiting from others' misfortune and infighting when the going gets tough; on the other it's a revelation of self-sacrifice and unswerving love. Giles Croft directs the production sensitively. You never actually see acts of cannibalism but the description of how a dead baby is hacked to pieces and eaten is particularly horrifying. Right from the start Jamie Vartan's set is stunning. At the back of the heavily raked stage is a huge backdrop of a prairie under a cloudy sky. When the pioneers get towards the difficult part of their journey, the actors lay out white cloths to represent snow as a blizzard begins to rage. Later the front of the stage flips ups to reveal the survivors' darkened, snow-covered cabins. The only problem with the play is that nine actors share 26 roles and it's difficult to build up a rapport with any of the pioneers. You feel little sympathy for their plight apart from the women who naturally are concerned for their children rather than themselves. Jonathan Melia is the only actor who doesn't double up. He gives a deep insight into the character of Lewis Keiserberg, the selfishly independent and most vilified member of the expedition who pulls back from the verge of insanity after disclosing his real feelings about the choice he made to eat rather than starve. The rest of the cast perform creditably, all making the best of the space and never losing their accents. Credit voice coach Sally Hague for that. John Morton's evocative music and Jeanine Davies' lighting are also integral parts of a fascinating production which remains focused and achieves impact without having to resort to sensationalism. "Angels Among TheTrees" runs until June 19th
|
||
|
|
