Sinead Gray
Cyrano de Bergerac
★★★★☆ Unexpectedly touching
There is an almost wilfully uneven quality to Arkle’s Cyrano de Bergerac at the Hill Street Theatre, but – eschewing much of the heroic bombast that is usually associated with the play – it manages to be convincing and affecting.
Lilies on the Land
★★★★☆ Beautiful drama
Following on from the success of their production of David Haig’s Pressure in April, Arkle Theatre have returned to World War 2 for Lilies on the Land as the early evening Fringe offering.
The Venetian Twins
★★★★☆ Finest farce
Two years after they were meant to be bringing The Venetian Twins to Hill Street Theatre, Arkle Theatre Company’s production of Tony Cowie’s adaptation of the play finally made it to the theatre on Wednesday night. It was well worth the wait.
The Taming of the Shrew
★★★☆☆ Uneven updating:
Arkle’s take on The Taming of the Shrew is a largely successful attempt to make relevant one of Shakespeare’s plays that is most troubling to modern audiences.
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds
★★★☆☆ Inexact science:
Arkle’s production of Paul Zindel’s The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds at the Hill Street Theatre is an uneven but ultimately fulfilling exploration of angry insecurities and brittle dreams.
