Red Phoenix have launched their third season of A Promenade of Shorts, originally created as a workaround for limited audience numbers during COVID, but now beginning to turn into something of a tradition – and one I hope they keep!
There was an excited buzz among the opening night audience as we waited in the outdoor area and were treated to live music, before being ushered into our first venue by some colourful tour guides (Anne Doherty, Kate Prescott and Olivia Jane Parker) who must be complemented for their commitment to staying in character – even when things go wrong! They, and the Red Phoenix team, including stage managers Lance Morgan, Carmel Boffa and Jan Farr kept the night running very smoothly.
And now, to the plays. Each was about 10 minutes and featured a small cast, and were cleverly structured to fluidly transition between moods – and I will do my best to cover each! On the mainstage, we were treated to a hilarious meta-farce, astutely directed by Norm Caddick. Jo Coventry, Matt Chapman, Adam Tuomenin, Anita Zamberlan Canala and Krystal Cave were all in sync with their comedic timing and physical comedy and provided an excellent start to the night for our audience group. Jessica Corrie and Laura Tregloan, under the direction of Alicia Zorkovic, were convincingly snippy about their friend, which, without giving spoilers, set Monika Lapka up for a grand entrance, one that she ate up every moment of! In the last of this set, Peta Shannon, Cheryl Douglas and Tom Tassone played off each other excellently with their shallow characters, and Malcolm Walton used his moments in the spotlight to maximum effect. It was refreshing to see a comedic piece about adults’ addiction to social media rather than kids for a change!
The Bar was smartly repurposed as a performance space in the round, where we were treated to my favourite piece of the night, deftly directed by Hayley Horton: Stuart Pearce as Martin and Lyn Wilson as Judith performed a lovely two-hander that asked, how do you say goodbye to someone who probably doesn’t deserve a goodbye at all? Both actors were simultaneously gentle and witty in their portrayals and had excellent chemistry. The following two pieces, also directed by Horton, featured an entertaining scene about waiting between Jethro Pidd and Jack Robins that perfectly demonstrated how much can be conveyed by physicality alone, and a Black Mirror-esque scene from Laura Lines and Rebecca Kemp. Lines’ astute characterisation provided an insightful reflection of the difficult financial circumstances young people face, and Kemp maintained a subtle but powerful stage presence as a calm and collected saleswoman.
The night hit its comedic peak with the plays performed in the Studio, all directed by Libby Drake. Lindsay Dunn, Joanne St Clair, Katie Packer, John Rosen, Jai Pearce and Charlie Butler were hilarious in their sitcom-like play, where each new character brought a new level of humour to the ludicrous concept they all joined in on. St Clair was particularly entertaining as the long-suffering wife of an over-planner. The next play was beautifully performed by Lisa Lanzi and Adrian Barnes, who created a surprising yet not jarring tonal shift as they bonded over the unseen struggles of those mourning relationships affected by memory loss. Barnes was especially strong in his role and brought a softness that changed the mood of the room. The night culminated in a madcap, period piece send-up between Sharon Malujlo, Michael Eustice and Zoe Battersby. Without giving away the central gag of the piece (you simply have to experience it for yourself), all three actors must be applauded for staying on the same wavelength throughout the entire scene and ensuring the joke never got old.
This showcase went off without a hitch and was superbly presented by a team of talented individuals. It was pleasing to hear other audience members raving about each and every play, and not being able to agree on a favourite! There truly was something for everyone and I strongly encourage you to go along and see for yourself.
