Reviews
Hidden Animals (2009)
Bradford International Film Festival
A young bag snatcher is in turn ripped off by the sleazy owner of a chip shop, who is also involved in other shady dealings, setting in motion the first stages in a vicious circle of petty crime and exploitation. A well-cast and neatly crafted look at a dog-eat-dog world with a chilling sting in the tail. http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/biff/09/Film_Detail.asp?filmid=8420
A Dolls House (2009)
Swansea, Grand Theatre
One can always rely on Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre Company to breathe life into material which, in less skilled hands, could so easily be percieved to be dour and dispiriting, and this immensely absorbing adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic story is a case in point.
How wonderful, then, to witness the manner in which director Peter Richards and his seven-strong cast manage to create a piece of theatre which is not only hugely upbeat and thought-provoking.
Gavin Dando (Nils Krogstad) fare splendidly in the respective role and the pace of the work never flags for a moment.
Reviewed By Graham Williams (Swansea Evening Post)
A Dolls House: high quality drama, dexterously directed
Tenby, De Valence Pavilion
10:48am Monday 2nd March 2009
"I’m looking forward to this. Ibsen is always a bundle of laughs, isn’t he?”
This comment came from a chap in the audience before a performance of A Dolls House, the classic play by Henrik Ibsen at the De Valence Pavilion in Tenby.
He was being sarcastic, of course, pointing out Ibsen’s usual material - human misery in spades, by the fireside.
A Dolls House was performed by Fluellen Theatre Company, a Swansea-based drama group.
The play centres on Nora, a wife and mother with a skeleton in her closet. This guilty secret isn’t seriously naughty by today’s standards, but in 1897 when the play was written, it was heinous.
If she’d read today’s agony aunts, Nora would have admitted her crime early on, and then worked with her family to come to terms with it. But she’s prevented from doing that by her husband’s intolerant nature.
He, carrying priggishness to new heights, values respectability more than life.
Nora, who falls into the hands of a blackmailer, has an especially challenging role. Jessica Sandry, who takes it, needs to appear to her fellow actors as the happy extrovert she’s always been, while also conveying to the audience her excruciating internal torments.
The part calls for tough acting skills and Jessica has them. Like most of Ibsen’s central characters, Nora is far from perfect and her final actions outweigh the immorality that caused the trouble in the first place.
Her husband is not only a stuffed shirt and a pedant, but has some outlandish views on the role of women. He doesn’t even expect household duties, but for her merely to stand about being decorative and idiotic. Like the doll in the play’s title.
It’s a sign of how surely Huw Richards brings off this character that, despite all his despicable faults, we have sympathy for the hapless husband in the end.
Seven people appear in this high quality drama, dexterously directed by Peter Richards - and all get their demanding Ibsen roles right. There is far more going on than the lines suggest and even those seeing Dolls House for the first time would – thanks to these accomplished actors - pick up most of the hidden motives and agendas.
Gavin Dando as a disgraced banker is creepy, seedy and unscrupulous, and yet still evinces our sympathy.
While is Mrs Linde, played by Liza Ludbrook, Nora’s best friend – or a conniving enemy? Hard to tell, and that is probably what the author intended.
David Dooley, in naturalistic style, is convincing as the dying doctor. And two smaller roles: maid Geraldine Davies and porter Shaun Hughes could hardly have been done better.
There was a lot to think about in Dolls House – that’s what makes the play so famous. And even with repeated viewings, you may never take it all in But Fluellen put across this unsettling mix of unbearable indecision, guilt, revenge and the anger so competently that nobody in Tenby De Valence Pavilion – including the many pupils and students who attended – should expect to see a more satisfying version in the future.
Fluellen return to the De Valence Pavilion on May 7th with the Odd Couple, the play on which Jack Lemon based a popular film.
Malcolm Stacey
Swansea, Grand Theatre, Lunchtime Theatre
The first entry in the new season of Fluellen Theatre Company's Grand Lunchtime Theatre oferings is another rollicking Comedy.
Directot Peter Richards has assembled a five strong cast. Gavin Dando is hugely sympathetic and likeable as cobbler Evan Harris.
There are some Lovely one-liners and the laughs come thick and fast.
Reviewed By Graham Williams (Swansea Evening Post)
Ole Mrs Roberts (2008)
Swansea, Grand Theatre, Luchtime Theatre
THE Grand's new season of lunchtime theatre offerings from Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre Company has got off to a cracking start with this rollicking, twist-in-the-tale comedy. Larger than life performances, a wholly accessible sitcom-style approach and excellent lighting and set design all contribute to the success of this little gem,
The story is set in a Benidorm villa, where strait-laced Polly (Katherine Weare) and her tactless, loud-mouthed husband Terry (Gavin Dando) are attempting to comfort the recently-widowed Olive (Liza Ludbrook) following the death of her DIY-crazy husband (Peter Richards), who is seen in a series of hugely entertaining flashbacks.
Reviewed By Graham Williams (Swansea Evening Post)
Hanging In There (2007)
Swansea, Tenby and Birmingham
Testicular cancer is patently no laughing matter, but this production from Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre revolving around one man`s struggle to come to terms with his condition strikes exactly the right balance between moments of broad humour and powerful drama.
Gavin Dando draws a strong picture of the insensitive chauvinist who’s going to be a part of any group of ‘the boys’ around their pints in the pub. The writing does make it a bit too obvious that he will be the one to finish up with probably an incurable testicular problem but it does serve to drive the message home and Dando is particularly moving at this point toward the end of the play
Review by Michael Kelligan www.theatre-wales.co.uk
Peter Richards’ cast are captivating, approaching their roles with fervour. Jack Llewellyn and Tom McLeod share the role of the protagonist, Jack, which allows for them to engage in comic banter with each other as well as provide the audience with inner dialogue. The device also softens the more intense, dramatic scenes. This is a wonderful pairing and the two spark off each other. There are some displays of heartfelt acting from Llinos Thomas as Jack’s wife and Gavin Dando as Dave, Jack’s friend.
Review by Ella-Louise Gilbert www.theatre-wales.co.uk
Comedy of Errors (2004)
Swansea, Grand Theatre
The Comedy of Errors has to rate as one of Fluellen's most irreverent and artistically successful productions to date... the manner in which the twelve strong cast handle their respective characters has one smiling from the outset. There are also noteworthy contributions from Gavin Dando and Eloise Howe as the Dromio twins, whose clown-like guise provides the spur for some clever physical comedy. Great fun...
Reviewed by "The Big Issue"
A talented twelve-strong cast ...Êdo much to ensure that the pace never flags for a moment... This is a production which lends itself brilliantly to Fluellen's in-the-round approach, and the performers handle the situation with enormous energy and commitment. This is a play which deserves to be seen and enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible, and one which makes the most of a large and enthusiastic cast.
Reviewed by Graham Williams - Western Mail
Antony and Cleopatra (2002)
Cambridge
A good start to the regular Cambridge summer Shakespeare season, followed as always by the worthy and worthwhile Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, bringing a selection of the plays (eight this year, two more than usual) to tourist and language school. Their Antony and Cleopatra had the advantage of a flashing black-eyed beauty with temper to match, Natalie Clayton, who brought the Cleopatra scenes triumphantly to life. Matthew Ward was an impressive Enobarbus; Gavin Dando, though cast against type, a dignified Caesar.
Grosvenor Myer, Michael. "Cambridge, Summer 2002." Early Modern Literary Studies 8.2 (September, 2002)
Beyond Words 2004
Swansea and Neath
We were pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Donald Anderson MP to our performance of Beyond Words at Morriston Comprehensive School on Friday 5th March.
Mr Anderson was kind enough to acknowledge his visit with a letter. Amongst his comments he said:
"I only wish that when I was at school, I was able to experience such live theatre in such a production."
"We were both not only very impressed with the quality of the performance and the versatility of the actors, but also with the rapt attention of all the school students present."
http://www.theatr-nanog.co.uk/news_donaldanderson_cy.html
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2005
Swansea, Tenby and Cardiff (Morganstown)
Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre Company is blessed with an ability to draw its audiences into the action by offering productions which are absorbing, inteligent and smartly staged.
Gavin Dando is ideally suited to the role of Puck, played here as a likeable, laddish character
Reviewed by Graham Williams - Swansea Evening Post
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