Jacques Brel is alive and well and Living
in Paris, Gate Theatre, Dublin
On Monday 30th
January last I had a very entertaining, engaging and uplifting theatre
experience at The Gate Theatre’s production of “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” at The Gate
Theatre Dublin.
This very
entertaining, different and uplifting musical revue appears to be set in an abandoned dilapidated
Parisian Saloon which in turn is the Gate’s auditorium extended onto the stage
and then ravaged. It is an appropriate and appealing design solution an a
setting that provides a comfortable environment for Brel’s gritty songs
The
production was directed by Alan Stanford, Set and Costumes Designed by Alyson
Cummins, Lighting Design by James McConnell, Hair and Make-up Design Anne
Dunne, Musical Director Cathal Synnott.
Aylson Cummins presents the performance space as a derelict,
once grand interior echoing the interior structure and style of auditorium. The
plasterwork on the frieze is broken and soiled, plaster has fallen off the
walls and ceiling, in fact the centre of the ceiling is missing, the void rimmed
with the remains of broken ceiling laths which act as gobos, making moody,
atmospheric streaked patterns of light on the walls. Some of the wall masonry
is exposed through fallen plaster, dust detritus abandoned fixtures and fittings
dress the edges and corners. In the midst of all this there are musical
instruments, an upright piano, a drum kit, guitars, a double bass, tables and
chairs.
I found the corners where
the structural plains of the set converged lightly empty and may have benefited
from some vertical dressings such as lengths of salvaged floor boards, stored
curtain poles, a wooden window cleaners ladder.
The cast drift into the
space as if they are a commune of squatters or a group of friends with common,
shared purpose. They are of the 1940s in appearance and attire. The performers
warm up, tune up into a roller coaster evening of music and song.
The overall collaboration between Set, Costume,
Lighting Design, Hair and Makeup and the robust, emotive, gritty performances
by the cast, supported by the quartet gives for a very immersive, enjoyable and
uplifting evening.
Costume Design was effective in giving the characters a credible
appearance/sense of period and place. At times the costumes were
used as action props, enabled the performers to change in and out of characters in a smooth choreographed way.
James Mc Connell,s Lighting Design in sync with Alan Stanford’s
Direction, the wonderful, energetic performances from Risteárd Cooper, Karen Mc
Cartney, Stephanie Mc Keon and Rory
Nolan combined with Cathal Synnott’s Musical Direction made for some modest
surprise dramatic moments. There were also moments when, in my opinion, when the business
directions detracted from the performance and from the singing of Brel’s works.
The
Team
Alan
Stanford, http://www.gatetheatre.ie/section/JaneEyre2010AlanStanford
Director: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0822157/
Alyson
Cummins, https://alysoncummins.com/
Set &
Costume Design: http://stageandscreendesignireland.ie/designers/alyson-cummins/
Anne Dunne,
Hair &
Make-Up Designer: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242818/
See also: Photos
by Pat Redmond at:
Super show
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