REVIEW: Old King Cole, Wortley Hall
Steele Valley Beacon Arts have produced a play of gritty realism, despite being set in the fictitious pit village, Coakley in 1984.
Bill and Mary Bradfield are celebrating their Golden wedding anniversary, despite uncertainty in the mining industry and bitter memories from the past.
When two households in Bill and Mary's extended family react differently to the Miners Strike, it looks as though it will tear the community apart.
There are some terrific, rousing and defiant songs throughout the musical, penned by Peter Fearnley, who also wrote the book. The surprisingly upbeat opening number has the ominous lyric, "There's a retail park where the pit once stood".
There is a real community feel to the performance like they know each other and look out for each over in real life. The energy literally spills out into the audience. During the N.U.M scene, most of the cast is in the audience and I felt part of the meeting.
The acting is first rate. Les Walker and Maureen Aitken provide solid central turns as Bill and Mary. There are stand out performances from warring brothers in law Alan and Geoff played by Conor Cunningham and Jeremy Cutts. Charlotte Fearnley and Mandy Aitken, respectively play their long-suffering wives.
Appropriately enough, in a very moving final scene it is Bill who has the final word from beyond the grave to enable the community to hold together.
Their next performance is on July 17 at the Venue, Stocksbridge
Stephen Grigg
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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