X-From_: ***@***.*** Tue Nov 2 19:03:46 1999
X-Originating-IP: [24.11.89.189]
From: "Duncan Ward" <***@***.***>
To: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Subject: Charley's Aunt
Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 19:03:14 MST
Mime-Version: 1.0
Dear Sir,
I too saw Stagebrush theatre's production of Charley's Aunt. I have read your review. I disagree with you completely. I have directed this show before. Timothy Slope was not a good choice for Fanny Babbs. I found that his characterization was quite poor. I found it very hard to believe that Tim was a young rambunctious college student. He also was entirely too old for the part, he may have been better one of the other times which he has played this role. As far as his voice not changing he might have attempted a genuine British accent at least once. And as far as age goes, Jack and Charley were much closer to the age of their characters. Bob Pemberton is a very talented young actor, and even on the preview of the show he rose to the occasion. Joseph Roberts, aside from some accent and articulation problems, was equally captivating. They impersonated young British College chums very well. I must say that T.J. was very good in the role of Sir Francis Chensey. I did not like Kathy Osborn as Charley's Aunt, Ela was weak, and Kitty and Amy did wonderfully. Over all I found that their attempt at british comedy fell a bit short, so I would also give it three stars, just different reasons.
Sincerely,
Duncan Ward
X-From_: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com Wed Nov
3 10:18:46 1999
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 10:18:04 -0700
To: "Duncan Ward" <***@***.***>
From: "Mark S.P. Turvin, M.F.A." <mspt@goldfishpublishers.com>
Subject: Re: Charley's Aunt
Mr. Ward,
Thank you very much for the detailed description of your thoughts about SBT's Charley's Aunt. It's interesting how we arrived at the same overall impression of the show from differing directions.
I understand your hesitations with Timothy Slope's characterization, which was a bit on the crass side in a very different way than the others, but which I enjoyed despite this fact. Perhaps the preview night that you saw them, the two college chums were more in synch, but as performances vary (sometimes greatly) from evening to evening, what may have worked during a preview night with a smaller house didn't seem to work on the opening night with a nearly full-house.
I welcome your impressions, understanding that your perspective is just as valid as mine. We may even have had the same thoughts had I attended the same evening as you. Criticism is all about perspective, though, and while I found Mr. Slope's separation from the rest of the group in attitude and performance worked, and I may have directed it the same way as Ms. Ferracane, your directorial choice may have worked just as well when integrated into your production concept.
Thanks again for the comments. I invite you to debate with me whenever you have varying views on one of my critiques. I learn quite a lot through this type of interaction.
Cheers,
Mark S.P. Turvin, M.F.A
Goldfish Publishers, LLC
mspt@goldfishpublishers.com