Once Upon A Time In Wigan
|
Once Upon A Time In Wigan
|
|
Please click on
|
"Once Upon A Time In Wigan" is a stageplay, set in the seventies and whose four central characters are two boys and two girls obsessed with Wigan Casino. I was expecting it to be a Saturday Night Fever goes to Lancashire, but in reality it was very different. It traced the lives and uncertainties of being Northern, working class and young in Pre-Thatcherite Britain for whom Wigan Casino became the only form of escapism. Throughout the story a large screen showed footage of Wigan dancers which had been taken from the 'This England' Documentary. In fact the play might easily be considered as a reworking of the documentary into stage format. If I was to be harsh I would say that the accompanying soundtrack was very predictable and the script was riddled with clichés. Nonetheless it was a marvellous production, sympathetically played by actors who could not have been more than a twinkling in the eye when the Casino was in at its height. If I had been in Southampton for the week I would have gone to every showing. It must have been very difficult for author Mick Martin to decide on his target audience. Every documentary ever produced about Northern Soul seems taken from the perspective of working class youths finding escape from their dull existences at Wigan. Every member who ever joined is portrayed as an obsessive. This script adopted those very same stances. Every book ever written seems duty bound to mention the state of the flooded toilets. In this script too we are treated to a scene where the two girls have to wade to the urinals. My point, if there is one, is that what a soul aficionado might consider a cliché might well be news to the general public, and in the end I suppose the play must have been written for their consumption. The same argument applies to the soundtrack, not a single sound I haven't got a dozen times already, but for the general public probably new and exciting music as they have ever heard before. Forget my familiarity with the subject matter, forget that I pretty much predicted every angle, for me it was a wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane, and in the end I probably got more out of it than those who knew nothing about the place. As the music started up and the screen showed the same old footage I have seen dozens of times already I struggled to hold back my tears. The script though predictable was sensitive, and full credit to the actors and actresses who gave stunning performances. It was a depressing tale but none the less included many very funny moments. Had I had any previous doubts then the digs at Burnley and its football team absolutely sold it. The actors produced dancing which was authentic and they really seemed to be enjoying themselves. After the show I spoke to the two actors Richard Oldham and Ryan Pope and no finer more down to earth lads could one hope to meet. Ryan confessed that prior to the show he had known nothing about Northern Soul, but since playing the part he had become well and truly hooked. He had not only bought the soundtrack, but several other NS compilations as well. Richard Oldham in his programme notes wrote, "I would give anything to take one step into the Casino, how fortunate they all were to be there". Clearly two young and much needed converts, but their love for their roles was evident from their performances. For the cognoscenti its a spellbinding trip down memory lane, for the uninitiated its an education, for the theatre buff its a moving performance. It is a play which has something for everyone. Congratulations must go to everybody involved in it. One final point which has nothing to do with the performance at all. Fifteen pounds per head admission, ten pounds for the Kent soundtrack, and one pound for a full colour and well produced programme. How often do you go out these days and feel that prices are fair and that you are not being ripped off. Full credit to the marketing folk as well. It was an excellent night and I would like to thank Jackie and Margaret for sharing the experience with us, their company made it all the more memorable.
|
|
Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
|
the category you wish to choose from the options
below
