The
Shellseekers
- part
of the 50th anniversary season
Adapters -
Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham from Rosamunde Pilcher's
novel.
Director - Ian Grieve
Designer - Ken Harrison
Costume Designer - Sarah - Jane McClelland
Lighting Designer - Mark Pritchard
Company - Pitlochry Theatre Company
Venue - Pitlochry Festival Theatre www.pitlochry.org.uk
01796 484626 accessible by rail, bus and by car takes 1hrs
30mins from centre of Edinburgh.
Dates - see listings for details
Runs in rep until with other plays, season ends 13 October 2001
Reviewer - Thelma Good
Pitlochry give us a superb production of this world premiere stage adaptation
of Rosamunde Pilcher's best selling novel. It has an atmospheric set
suggestive of many locations - sections drop in and out and slide out
and in. They take us from a Gloucestershire conservatory to restaurants,
beaches, and a wartime artist's studio. This, with the costumes and
lighting, give us a feel for the hightened way artists see our world,
making the production a visual treat.
The well cast actors
delight in the many telling scenes between them, some very short but
none the less satisfying. At the centre is Clare Richards who
makes a stunningly, sharp witted and tongued Penelope Keeling, the daughter
of the painter of The Shellseekers. Glamorous in her late 60s, Penelope
is still alive to her emotions and everyone else's. To her The Shellseekers'
value is immeasurable but two of her children know what it's worth to
them at least.
Mikush Sapieha, exudes slimy tactlessness as the shallow money-obsessed
son Noel. Anneli Harrison is striking as Penelope's spiky daughter
Olivia who admires her mother as much as she loves her. Nancy, Charlotte
Fields, is the superbly drawn contrast, infuriating in her inability
to let well alone. Her husband George, Martyn James gently swings
his club at his golf ball - we all want him to dunt Nancy hard with
it! His rebellion in the play is wonderful when it comes. Helen Lomax
as the young Penelope, thrills again in her third major role in this
season, each one showing another facet of this sparkling young actor.
Matthew Chambers in the dual roles of Danus, the gardener Penelope
hires, and his lookalike Richard from her past, has depth as well as
physical charm. The rest of the cast provide excellent support for this
play which rarely paints a false picture.
Best selling novels often tie up all the stories neatly, but drama and
life don't work like that. The influence of this novel's drive to have
happy endings shows in two scenes in the second act. Both involve medical
conditions, and use too many clichéd lines, falling below the
overall satisfying standard of the dramatisation. But the overall surefootedness
of this adaptation and Pilcher's interesting storylines of love and
possession, how hurt we can make ourselves, and what we often encounter
when relatives get old, have the audience nodding, sometimes laughing
in recognition at the well directed characters. The Shellseekers is
another satisfying play for the 2001 season.
Š Thelma Good 25 May 2001
Matthew Chambers as Danus
Clare Richards as Penelope
and Alexandera Chell as Antonia imageŠPitlochry Theatre
Alex Heggie as Sterne
and Helen Logan as the young Penelope
imageŠPitlochry Theatre
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