MANOR by Martin Murphy
Reviews
Bruised Sky Productions presents MANOR
Directed by James Kermack
The Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden
15th March - 3rd April 2010
19:30 Monday - Saturday
£12.00 / £10.00
Barra Collins is appearing as Joe in Manor.
MANOR IS THE BRUTAL TALE OF THREE MEN THROWN TOGETHER BY VIOLENCE AND LOVE. ALTHOUGH SET IN THE PRESENT DAY, MANOR TELLS A STORY WHICH BRINGS ELEMENTS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY, TRADITIONAL LEGEND AND BIBLICAL REFERENCE INTO THE CLASSIC BRITISH GANGSTER GENRE. MANOR USES A HEIGHTENED POETIC FORM OF LANGUAGE, TRANSFORMING THE WORDS OF THE GRIMY LONDON UNDERWORLD INTO A NEAR MUSICAL EXPERIENCE. WHILE THE PLAY IS UNDOUBTEDLY HARD HITTING MARTIN MURPHY'S PLAY FINDS A REAL HUMANITY IN EACH OF HIS CHARACTERS MAKING THE HORRIFYING BEARABLE WHILST TRANSFORMING THE MOST MINOR INFIDELITY INTO AN UNFORGIVABLE SIN.
REVIEWS
...the play is a vivid depiction of a particular world and each of the cast members give strong performances. ...James Kermack has managed to create a powerful, if grim, evening of theatre.
WOS Rating: 
Read more at Whats on Stage
The performance notes for this absorbing play specify that it should include no interval, and it's clear why: it would be a crime to halt the breathtaking momentum of Martin Murphy's frenetic script, driven throughout by its aggressive rhythms and by turns wickedly funny and starkly beautiful.
It's rare to see a group of actors so in tune with each other delivering performances so fully realised physically and emotionally.
Strangely for a monologue-heavy play, though, it's the way the actors work together that really stands out. Collins and Pucci, in particular, have clearly developed a deep rapport. In their final scenes together this is used to great effect as the two characters seem to move and speak as one, but with vitally different intentions. It's the most "theatrical" moment in the play and it could come off as contrived, but it's brilliantly handled.
Remotegoat Rating: 
Read more at RemoteGoat
Directed by James Kermack
The Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden
15th March - 3rd April 2010
19:30 Monday - Saturday
£12.00 / £10.00
Barra Collins is appearing as Joe in Manor.
MANOR IS THE BRUTAL TALE OF THREE MEN THROWN TOGETHER BY VIOLENCE AND LOVE. ALTHOUGH SET IN THE PRESENT DAY, MANOR TELLS A STORY WHICH BRINGS ELEMENTS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY, TRADITIONAL LEGEND AND BIBLICAL REFERENCE INTO THE CLASSIC BRITISH GANGSTER GENRE. MANOR USES A HEIGHTENED POETIC FORM OF LANGUAGE, TRANSFORMING THE WORDS OF THE GRIMY LONDON UNDERWORLD INTO A NEAR MUSICAL EXPERIENCE. WHILE THE PLAY IS UNDOUBTEDLY HARD HITTING MARTIN MURPHY'S PLAY FINDS A REAL HUMANITY IN EACH OF HIS CHARACTERS MAKING THE HORRIFYING BEARABLE WHILST TRANSFORMING THE MOST MINOR INFIDELITY INTO AN UNFORGIVABLE SIN.
REVIEWS
...the play is a vivid depiction of a particular world and each of the cast members give strong performances. ...James Kermack has managed to create a powerful, if grim, evening of theatre.
WOS Rating:
Read more at Whats on Stage
The performance notes for this absorbing play specify that it should include no interval, and it's clear why: it would be a crime to halt the breathtaking momentum of Martin Murphy's frenetic script, driven throughout by its aggressive rhythms and by turns wickedly funny and starkly beautiful.
It's rare to see a group of actors so in tune with each other delivering performances so fully realised physically and emotionally.
Strangely for a monologue-heavy play, though, it's the way the actors work together that really stands out. Collins and Pucci, in particular, have clearly developed a deep rapport. In their final scenes together this is used to great effect as the two characters seem to move and speak as one, but with vitally different intentions. It's the most "theatrical" moment in the play and it could come off as contrived, but it's brilliantly handled.
Remotegoat Rating:
Read more at RemoteGoat