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Having enjoyed several productions at The Old Electric’s former Springfield Road venue, David Simper was keen to see how the company fared at the Winter Gardens conference centre this weekend. Disembarking from the Service 61 bus in Corporation Street, he got in some steps to the Leopold Grove entrance.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The new Winter Gardens (in the new bit) venue doesn’t have a stage and in this respect mirrors the old Springfield Road premises in providing an eye level performance space, now enclosed by chairs on three sides. I expected some lights to dim, concentrating illumination on the centre, but that didn’t happen; this created a more communal experience.
On entering we were aware of a number of crow-like figures (despite the gold coloured beaks) hovering behind the rows of seats. Loud, sea shanty style folk music entertained us; possibly another couple of tunes would be good.
Back in time
This production was described as a powerful, multi-sensory story telling event from Blackpool’s only original theatre company, Th’ESPs. As billed, the piece incorporated local history and folklore, highlighting our town’s heritage. I was very interested in the apparently real life characters featured in this play and the surviving place names that featured, such as Foxhall. What happened to their homes and grand buildings? Much of the Fylde would have been marsh, passable only by causeways, into the 17th century, and a defensible building on the coast would have been an effective refuge. 1651, the year of the Battle of Worcester, was mentioned; following that, many Royalists became refugees, including the later King Charles II – did any wash up here?
Back in the Winter Gardens, a single figure took the centre stage to start proceedings; the crows descended upon him. It seems to be the 13th century and Blackpool is entirely undeveloped and known as Pul. The figure bemoans the desolation, after all he’s stood among sand dunes on the coast of a large marsh and should expect this. He makes a deal with the crows, or possibly the devil incarnate, to bring joy through developing what becomes Blackpool; but he is warned that there must be balance, or there will be consequences. But what is this balance?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_raw_html 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Local lore
Much of the piece is taken by stories narrated by mermaids, interspersed with dance and aerial display. You find their discarded purses on the beach, actually dog fish egg sacks, so we know they’re there. Mermaid number one narrates a tale of marooned and scurvy ridden pirates, via a mythical ship, which sounds a bit like the Flying Dutchman. A saviour appears from the waves and transforms these souls into vampirates. They still need a figure-head for their reconstituted ship and somehow adopt a drag queen to perform this function. The tale was supported by a shadow theatre, to some extent bringing the characters to life. Vary effective.
I would describe the performance as having something of a steam punk aesthetic. Given the likely budget, the costumes were of high quality and well thought out. There was much cross-dressing, which added to the play’s surrealist atmosphere. Cast members were able filling several roles each. This was all very capably put together. Scenery was necessarily minimal, but what there was was used effectively. Who made all those rats?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]
Behind the glamour
Meanwhile, the developing Blackpool begins to provide joy to the working classes as the railway opens things up. A brief but welcome relief from the soot, squalor, grind and tuberculosis of the north west of England’s textile economy for working people. But there’s a cost in cruelty, here exemplified by freak shows, although these are defended stoutly. Rats start to appear. The acts include the ‘starving bride’, which I have never understood the attraction of. A mermaid in a tank is also offered as an attraction and for the initial ‘agent of joy’ character, this is too much.
Here greed becomes a central theme. Mermaid two relates a tale of a fisher couple over-extending themselves, until a new privileged existence granted by a magic flounder fish, comes crashing down around them. Here excellent model making had created a convincing enough magic fish; puppetry supports the show throughout.
The show’s pace was quite relentless. Although we were on top of the action, some of the dialogue could be difficult to follow, particularly if accents were being done. This is a small quibble, generally things were highly audible. However, one had to really focus to keep up with what was happening.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”54031″ img_size=”large” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Things went quiet for a while and was beginning to think how disjointed things had become when I realised we were in the interval. Slow on the uptake nowadays.
Back to the action, and the crows had become sea gulls, themselves compromised by the availability of waste food set against catching your own fish. They once more descend on the hapless joy merchant and point out the error of his ways. It’s back to the question of balance; the joy of some has become the misery of others. The Blackpool freak shows trade in misery and misfortune. Things reach a head.
The audience was rapt throughout and the warmth of applause matched the skill and commitment of those on the non-stage. The show came to a satisfying end to a rapturous ovation.
This production has been written, produced, choreographed, scored and now performed by the excellent Th’ESPs theatre company. The performance was exuberant and the cast gave off an air of confident professionalism of which many an ‘establishment’ company would be proud. All involved should be proud.
To quote, “this new production was inspired by our connections to the sea, mythology and folklore of the local landscape and the concept of variety entertainment as a cultural identity.” In these respects the show did not disappoint in any way. Congratulations on this show and its performance.
Photo credit: Corey Wong[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
