A nostalgic celebration of simple storytelling set in a world without screens" is Alice Cairns review on the curious play that is 'Mystery On Air' at Theatre Royal which runs until Sat Oct 13.
Details
Venue: Theatre Royal, Windsor
Upcoming Shows & Times:
Tue 9th Oct - Sat 13th Oct
Tue-Sat 8 pm
- Thu 2.30pm
- Sat 4.45pm
Book here: www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
Our Verdict
The concept of Mystery on Air may need a little explanation. It’s a curious play, a quaint mix of mediums and stories, with a minimum of on-stage drama. The pleasure of the evening comes not from elaborate stagecraft or dazzling costumes, but from the simple pleasure of being told a story.
The play transports you back to the golden age of radio drama, when actors wore black tie to perform, even when they wouldn’t be seen by their audience. You watch as our cast of actors step up to the mic to perform three tales of murder and intrigue, each actor performing several parts, sound effects provided with the help of buckets, books and umbrellas.
The White Rose Murders is the straightforward tale of a serial killer hunted by a wealthy and love-struck debutante. The Most Dangerous Tale is great fun, an out-there, slightly hammy story about a diabolical hunter, which nevertheless delivers real tension. House by the River is an odd little story about a murderous poet, his neglected wife and his faithful brother. Unlike the other two stories, this one ends on a somewhat abrupt and open note – a curious choice to end the evening, perhaps.
The star-studded cast includes Jenny Seagrove, Sue Holderness, Daniel Casey, Elizabeth Payne and Matthew Cottle. Everyone pulls their weight, bringing their considerable experience to bear on the material, and there’s an impressive array of accents on display. The stories may be dark, but there are also plenty of fond laughs to be had at the pomposity and silliness of golden age radio drama.
There were a few stumbling blocks – an opening speech, received with raucous laughter by the front rows, was difficult to hear at the back. There were a few fumbled lines, and it was occasionally difficult to adjust to the experience of watching actors read from scripts on stage. This isn’t the kind of play that’s likely to revolutionise the way you think about theatre.
But that doesn’t stop Mystery on Air from offering a fun evening out that recaptures the simple pleasure of storytelling – a nostalgic look back at a time before the screen permeated our lives.
