A Wales Millennium Centre production
Man to Man
Newcastle Northern Stage
Until
Wednesday
18th October 2017
Written by Manfred Karge
Translated by Alexandra Wood
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
It is a shame that this production
is only visiting the region for two shows. Man
To Man really stands out in a season that has seen Northern Stage host some
great shows. In fact this is proving to be the best season that they’ve had for
some years. We don’t hand out stars, as you know, but this would be a candidate
for five of them if we did. I know we love the vast majority of shows that we
go to but this one really stands out. I hope that’s not too much hyperbole but
here we go with the review.
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
Man to Man is a single-handed
play tells the life story of a woman called Ella
Gericke who marries at 19 to a crane operator who dies just over a year after
their marriage from cancer. The trouble is that death results in the loss of
the bread winner. She therefore decides to adopt the identity of her husband
Max based upon the assumption that the lads at his workplace didn’t really know
who operated the crane who worked above the factories floor. The plan seems to
be working until the Nazis arrived and started a war that needed men to fight.
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
Maggie Bain is incredibly versatile as
Ella. She successfully carries out the role of storyteller and actor whilst
climbing up and down the set. She moves with intrinsically choreographed grace
whilst delivering the monologue with vigour and purpose. The energy ensured the
audience were captivated for the full 85 minutes. Directors Bruce Guthrie and
Scott Graham have done a fine job in keeping the spirit of playwright Manfred
Karge who has been described as ‘East Germany’s Orson Welles’.
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
Helping Maggie deliver the show was a
really creative set which has a number of features thanks to Richard Kent’s
design. Over the top of the set are occasional projections from Andrzej
Goulding and subtle lighting from Rick Fisher. The moment when Maggie’s shadow
showed her lifting a baby rather than the actual cushion that was in her hand
was an example of how the staging helped deliver the story.
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
Man to Man has a strong sense of
storytelling rather than delivering style over substance. An energetic
performance, showing a real sense of stage craft, by Maggie Bain was both
powerful and entertaining. The set, sound and lighting supported her in a way
which reminded me of The Curious Incident
of the Dog in the Nighttime. This is impressive theatre.
Review by Stephen Oliver
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| Photo: Polly Thomas |
Performed
by Maggie Bain
Directed by
Bruce Guthrie & Scott Graham
Design by
Richard Kent
Lighting
Design by Rick Fisher
Sound
Design by Mike Walker
Video
Design by Andrzej Goulding
Music by
Matthew Scott
Produced by
Pádraig Cusack
‘Wales Millennium Centre’s licence to
present Manfred Karge’s MAN TO MAN is granted by
Rosica Colin Limited, London, by arrangement
with henschel SCHAUSPIEL, Berlin.’
Age Guidance: 14+ (Contains strong language
and adult themes)
Newcastle - Northern Stage
Tuesday 17th - Wednesday 18th
October 2017
Box Office: www.northernstage.co.uk - 0191 230 5151
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