THEATRE REVIEWS

A travelling band of players arrived in Scarborough to perform the play The Bells. Bearing all the the signs of a Victorian melodrama, which touched on the morals of the time, here we were shown how, like today, religion had an input into how people were regarded by the community in which they found themselves. We had a Polish jew arriving in a small community to stay overnight, his only crime was that he carried a money belt full of what someone else wanted. This new version of Leopold Lewis' play by Deborah McAndrew is presented by Northern Broadsides and directed by Conrad Nelson. Always with this company you expect a lot and you always get your money's worth. We had music, also by Conrad Nelson, superbly sung and played by the cast; magic which mystified the audience as to how it was done and, above all, very fine acting.

Two nice performances were given by Sean O'Callaghan as the father Mathias and Sarah Parks as the mother Catherine. They were given great support by the rest of the cast who lived their parts to the full. They showed us a Polish Jew arriving and suddenly disappearing, something that was always avoided in conversations for fifteen years until a new policeman arrives in the community and becomes involved with the father's daughter. The rest of the story is for you to see and interpret in your own way, but you will see similarities to today; how little changes.

This was an enjoyable evening's entertainment, with this company showing what can be achieved with fine direction and acting. Only one drawback was no photographs of the cast in the programme. Make the effort to see this play when it comes your way. It will make you think. © BA

“The Bells” is at the Round in Scarborough from the 10th to the 16th of October, 2004 and then touring.