Under Development
The
promise of a stirring story provided by a splendid company in such a suitable venue
has been satisfyingly realised.
Although we have a tale from the Scriptures being staged in the formal setting of Derby Cathedral (as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations), André Obey's play is not a dry, sermonising Sunday School piece but a dramatic, entertaining and universal tale of belief, hope and faith. And of domestic conflict, too: Noah's brood appears to be the genesis of the dysfunctional family!
Eddy Chambers touchingly conveys a man of God with the world (and its future) on his shoulders, weighed down by sneerers and doubters.
He is particularly poignant when he anguishes over the sight of people drowning, and this reminds us that the play can equally be viewed as a modern tale of the Apocalypse and its likely fallout, strengthened by dialogue refreshingly free of archaic language e.g. "why are you in such a funk?" asks Ham.
There is most assured support throughout, with a few players encouragingly given their first chance to flex their actorly muscle - well done Nick Hallam (Ham), Charlotte Palmer (Ada) and James Peake (Shem).
Occasionally, the cast was hampered by an unavoidably shrill, reverberative acoustic, and the play is not as amusing as I was led to believe. On the other hand, the strife and friction of the second half is most telling.
There are other plus factors: the Bakewell Screen makes for a grand entrance to the ark; although some of the animal masks are a touch cartoony, the actors behind them are impressively lithe and 'animated'; and novel use of Peter Gould's son-orous organ enhances the atmosphere.
OHowever, the aisles need to be more flooded for Ian Arnot's impressive production. Hurry, though: this deluge is only here for four days and four nights.
Ashleigh Franklin
Derby Evening Telegraph, 15th December 2002