I walked into the Forest Theatre at Greenside at George Street, and the music of 1912 was already playing like it was over a gramophone. This really set the tone and helped me get excited to see the show. The audience was the same, the theatre being completely sold out.
The show opens with Frederick Barrett, a true character who was onboard the Titanic, answering questions for an inquiry into its sinking. We are quickly transported to 1912 and told all about the lives of the coal shovelers in Boiler Room Six.
We meet our host of characters, all played by actor Charlie Sheepshank. The characters, although based on real people, often feel a little disingenuous due to the fact that they come across as stereotypes with slightly didgy accents rather than fleshed out characters. The story, however, is a fascinating one of compassion, human endurance, and quick thinking in a time of rapid disaster.
Even though you know that Frederick survives, you do find yourself worrying that something awful is going to happen as he journeys through the sinking ship, brilliantly laid out through the beautiful light/soundscape.
I did, however, feel a little disappointed that the audience was asked to suspend their disbelief about being on a sinking ship in 1912, yet we had to endure a 2 minute blackout where we watched the actor walk offstage and reappear with a head that had been clearly dunked into a bucket of water. The audience accepts that they are already on the Titanic, and it breaks the momentum of the story.
Boiler Room Six is a solid play, and if Titanic interests you, you will have a good time. It just needed some tightening in my opinion, before I could be truly blown away.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hoping you are all enjoying your time at the theatre, and I hope you have a fantastic fringe! 😁
Love,
Tony x
No comments:
Post a Comment