THEATRE REVIEWS

Three young women walk onto the stage and dress themselves in the women's clothes of the nineteenth century; the words begin to flow as they tell us the story of the Bronte family of Howarth. The audience go quiet and are captivated by the fascinating way in which the story unfolds. The stage characters intermingle with the characters that they had created in their books as all is explained. Their humdrum lives are transported into fantasy as they try to escape their daily toil.

Not a second is lost as writer and director Polly Teale tells of the goings on within the household; the fears, the frustrations of these plain, ordinary young women who aspire to fulfil themselves in their writing whilst coping with their father, brother and suitor as they travel towards success and ultimate early death. This a wonderful piece of writing that has been meticulously researched, which has brought the reward of giving pleasure and lasting memories to all those who had the good fortune to experience it.

The three young women who gave the audience such pleasure were Diane Beck as Emily Brontë, Catherine Cusack as Anne Brontë and Fenella Woolgar as Charlotte Brontë, whose performances were outstanding. David Fielder was Patrick, the father, also slipping into the parts of the curate and the publisher; Matthew Thomas was Branwell, the brother; Natalia Tena was Bertha and the Cathy character from the stories, all of whom gave first rate acting performances. It was refreshing to be able to hear every word after the mumblings and mutterings so prevalent these days.

All this enclosed within the grey clothes and set designed by Angela Davies, which sets the time and place, allowing the audience to drift into the atmosphere brought about by the story.

We had one of those artistically designed programmes that tried to be all things to all people, but failed to allow you to read it, being printed in black text on a dark grey background on the cast page and various other variations of colour on other pages, failing to give thought to the fact that there is dim lighting in a theatre auditorium.

It is nice to go to the theatre and experience a piece of work where everything is right. The audience fell silent as soon as the actors began to speak and this lasted until the lights faded to bring about the play's conclusion. This was a wonderful night at the theatre, do not miss this play if it comes your way. © BA

“Brontë” is in Leeds on the 6th September until the 17th September, 2005 then continues on tour. Council car parking charge £1 from 5.30pm until 10pm.