We have recently Joined NODA (The National Operatic and Dramatic Association) in District 2 of the Eastern Region.

We received our first review this week, for our recent production of “Control” written by Keith and Performed by our CS21 group.

Here it is below….We hope to have many more in the future….

Control

VENUE Barton-le-Clay Village Hall
TYPE OF PRODUCTION Play
DIRECTOR Keith Badham
CHOREOGRAPHER Daisy Cassels
PRODUCER Keith Badham
WRITTEN BY Keith Badham

Report

Author: Richard Fitt

So, a new society and a youth one as well, which is always a welcome addition to the NODA fold. And a visit, my second within a week to Barton-le-Clay. And what a ‘WOW’ they have just made. It was only forty minutes long but it felt like it had just crammed three hours of drama into that short time frame.

Control was written and directed by that stalwart of Barton Players, Keith Badham, and in his own words has taken a long time to reach the stage for a number of reasons. But what a script to play with, it kept you riveted throughout, telling the story of a class of drama students working through their classes and witnessing coercive behaviour. To quote the programme: Robin runs a drama class that’s working towards an exam. The play not only shows what the students have created, but also a little window into the world of teaching, whilst trying to be aware of manipulative behaviours hidden in plain sight. Through a series of dream sequences and classroom exercises, we witness an unhealthy relationship between Lee and Jay as they explore their relationship.

The set was a simple bare stage and the only props used were a number if identical stools, which were demonstratively position as required. Lighting was in the expert hands of Keith and Rachael Bowie and sound was by the director himself.

This cast were certainly well rehearsed and the action was very fast paced and one could say almost choreographed, especially the crowd scenes where the use of arms and body angles were very intelligently used to depict moods and emotions, I detect a considerable input from both young Choreographer Daisy Cassels and the cast themselves on that, as this bunch of youngsters have been working together for years and are now showing maturity way beyond their years   - brilliantly done!

Our two leads Leo Williamson as Lee and Olivia Horwood as Jay are both familiar faces having been in at least four show I have reviewed for Barton Players. One of the great delights of my job is seeing youngsters mature into full-fledged adult actors and these two are certainly in the top echelons of that happy band. Leo Williamson in a previous show provided one of the most memorial moments of my NODA career, when with only one word to deliver he comedically asked for a prompt. So I knew he could handle comedy, but here he amply demonstrated his ability to handle a whole gambit of emotions. Olivia Horwood is also a seasoned actress and a part product of Barton Players excellent summer school, and in this she was simply on absolute top form. Body language, facial expressions and delivery all kept you riveted to the action.

Chloe Badham as Robin the drama teacher, the only adult in the room and whom I’ve known mainly for her previous choreographic input was a revelation, having seen her only once before on stage as Nancy in Barton Player’s Oliver, as she nailed this part to the floor, with just the right amount of interfering authority and letting the artistic juices flow from her students. Very cleverly done! Not surprisingly, she also had a hand in providing additional direction for this play.

And the rest of the cast were no slouches either, as they perfectly demonstrated that the art of acting is actually the art of reacting. And react they did in spades. Their discipline, concentration and delivery couldn’t be faulted. I can’t claim to remember who was whom in this short piece, as names were rarely used and gender was avoided altogether so suffice to say the input with quips and interjections was equally riveting, so well done indeed to: Harrison Hunt (Taylor), Faith McNevin (Ali), Ashley Riley (Ash) Christian Farr (Chris), Joel Platt (Jo), Daisy Cassels (Truth), Lauren Platt (Ashton), Alex Hamilton (Alex) and Lola De Casse Weinman (Frankie)   

One of many stand out moments was the mini play dream sequence involving a dog and cat by Taylor, Chris And Lee; who when asked to improve it by Robin; came back with exactly the same sketch – only this time in Spanish. Oh the arrogance of youth - Superb!

This show was the product of a well drilled cast who have obviously got to know each other over several years in the hands of a very skilled writer and director. It was almost like watching a topflight sports team who know and trust each other’s talents and limits inside out. Best summed up by my better half who was a tad reluctant to leave the warmth of her fireside home on a Sunday evening, but who has been raving about this masterpiece ever since. Top draw guys! Welcome to NODA!