Love and Understanding (2005)

27th July

	Social Evenings @ 8pm every Tuesday Nomes Summer workshop - book now! Visit To Chichester Festival Theatre What tipples your fancy? Prompt Corner

Username:
Password:

Not Registered?

Join the Nomad
Mailing List!

Love and Understanding (2005)

Click to see a larger picture of Love and Understanding

Directed By
Rowan Bangs

Producer
Laurence Armitage

Production Type
Nomads Production

Production Location
Studio Theatre

Turnout: 93%

User Rating:

(5/5 with 1 votes)

Flier Summary:

By Joe Penhall

When Ritchie returns from abroad and arrives on his friends’ doorstep, Neal and Rachel are forced to reassess their relationship, ambitions and lives. ‘Love and Understanding’ explores our desire for freedom and our need for stability in all too painful and realistic way.

Joe Penhall (‘Blue/Orange’, ‘The Dumb Show’) is part of a new wave of writers dealing with life in contemporary Britain and here presents us with a poignant reminder that nothing last forever.

"An exceptional new play"
Time Out

"[This] play confirms Penhall as one of our best new writers"
Sunday Times

Production Dates & Prices: (Please note Booking Information)



Date	Time	Price
Tuesday 5th April 2005	8:00pm	£6.00
Wednesday 6th April 2005	8:00pm	£6.00
Thursday 7th April 2005	8:00pm	£6.00
Friday 8th April 2005	8:00pm	£6.00

Cast: (in programme order)



Peter Stanbridge	... Neal
Edd Mott	... Ritchie
Julia Cockrane	... Rachel

Crew: (in programme order)



Rowan Bangs	... Director
Laurence Armitage	... Producer
Zoe Triantafillou	... Assistant Director
Stuart Bangs	... Stage Manager
David Armitage	... Lighting Designer
Phillip Griffith	... Publicity / Marketing

Official Review:

the review

Along with Rowan Bangs, the director of Love and Understanding, I think we can all identify to some extent with Neil’s (Pete Stanbridge) frustration and fear at being stuck in a rut and secretly wish to have at least some of the abandonment of Richie (Edd Mott). In this funny yet thought provoking play extremes serve to highlight the need for balance in life. Richie returns from travelling and imposes himself on the hospitality of old friend Neil and his girlfriend Rachel (Julia Cochrane). He has no sense of responsibility or social skills and intensifies the stress in Neil’s life whilst offering Rachel an escape from hers. Ultimately she and Richie end up in bed and are caught by Neil. Having displayed repeated bouts of anger and irritation throughout, Pete Stanbridge’s controlled fury at this double betrayal was incredibly powerful and chilling to watch. Richie then attempts suicide and ends up in a coma. Neil and Rachel, now separated, mount vigil at his bedside. Richie recovers and has a new more sober approach to life whereas Neil has left his job, started smoking and is thinking of going travelling. Edd Mott was in his element as the infuriating yet loveable Richie. He managed to make him more than a caricature allowing the audience glimpses of the loneliness and vulnerability that are covered by his brash exterior. Julia Cochrane was totally convincing as Rachel, taking the character through the gamut of emotions with subtlety and great skill.

The evening I saw Love and Understanding, the first two scenes were a little slow but once the pace picked up I became completely engrossed. I liked the use of the cast as sceneshifters, it worked on a Brechtian level to remind us that we were watching a play but also, and in contradiction, maintained the intimacy of the piece and the connection between actors and audience. The set, designed by Rowan Bangs and constructed by Stuart Bangs and the Tuesday Crew team, was ingenious. Three doors in the back wall folded out or were removed to form a table, a desk, a dressing table and a drugs cabinet. The walls and floor were white, and black rostra were used as chairs and other furniture. Lighting was well designed by Zoe Triantafillou and David Armitage and faultlessly executed by Laurence Armitage. It moved from bright sunshine to sunset and the clinical coolness of the hospital. The music for the scene changes was absolutely right for the piece and Nick Williams operated with perfect timing. There were a few minor niggles with the props – in a space that small coffee mugs should contain coffee conversely beer bottles should be empty or nearly so before the next round is bought! It is the small details that lift a production that extra notch and ensure the audience stays with the illusion.

I feel able to make these small points of slight criticism because Rowan Bangs and his cast impressed me so much with their professionalism, creativity and talent that I believe they deserve the courtesy of a totally honest review. What a fantastic evening.

Related News:


Mar 2005	Love and Understanding
Mar 2005	A few words from John
Mar 2005	BOX OFFICE... BOX OFFICE...
Jan 2005	AUDITIONS: Love and Understanding

User Reviews:

No Online Reviews Found

Errors and omissions on this page may be reported by pressing the button below where they will be examined and, if accepted, included in a future update.