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Road
As part of their 40th anniversary, Bench Theatre are performing one play from each decade of their existence and Jim Carwright's 1986 opus – Road – represents that turbulent decade in their journey.
Cartwright's gritty, foul-mouthed, riotous celebration of one northern road is given vibrant life in Nathan Chapman's production.
Chapman has assembled a hugely strong cast from Bench stalwarts and faces that were certainly new to this reviewer, and each and every one of them takes Cartwright's text and runs with it.
Among the old-timers, Peter Corrigan, David Penrose, Sally Hartley and Peter Woodward impress, while Ingrid Corrigan impresses and amuses mightily as the neighbourhood mad old bag.
One always has faith in actors of this standing and here that faith is not betrayed.
Among the newer members of the company, mention must be made of Melanie Cole, whose post-disco attempted seduction of a drunk soldier is the comedy tour-de-force of the evening.
And Callum West's a fearless performer, too. In two scenes where he does little but listen to music, rarely does the eye stray from him.
The latter of those scenes, with Jessi Wilson, Rosie Carter and Jack Cronin, with its life-affirming philosophy in the face of all the Eighties can throw at them, is beautifully played by all, especially Cronin.
If quality local theatre is what you're looking for, look no further than this.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
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