Drayton Arms Theatre Archives - North West End UK

An Absolute Farce of a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

3Mar

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

An Absolute Farce of a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

Seeing a play taking on a very well-known genre and trying to reference it, turning it into something different, is an entertaining and educational experience, though things can turn out less interesting than expected, if the intentions are better than the implementation. This show, written by Peter Rae, and directed by Helen Bang, both doubling as actors, is an attempt at making fun of the genre of the Murder Mystery trope. While the intentions are clear from the beginning, the actual running of the show is a hot mess of overly saturated references and misplaced punchlines. The show starts with "Manning – The Butler", portrayed by Christian Ballantyne, who is cleaning some props on stage, and makes the first attempt at getting the audience to laugh, when spitting a candleholder whi...

Fabulett 1933 – Drayton Arms Theatre

"Fabulett 1933" at the Drayton Arms Theatre presented a thought-provoking and bold take on the impact of the rise of fascism in 1933 Germany on the queer community. Michael Trauffer, who wrote and performed the one-man musical, deserves applause for his ambition in connecting a historical piece to today's world, where many societies are moving to the right. He did a fine job in embodying Felix, the host of Berlin's “most decadent” club, with his portrayal of the flamboyant character, wearing various costumes, including black leather, big skirts, sequined caps and a whip. However, the limited time for plot development and a lack of tension throughout the piece detracted from its overall impact. The inclusion of surprising details, such as the attendance of Nazi officers at the club, of ...

The Other – Drayton Arms Theatre

Packing boxes and walls with scribbles draw the audience into a unique house as they enter. A sentence is written on the walls. It is then spoken aloud. The rest of the show then embodies it. Delicately presented with light moments of interaction with the audience, ‘the other’ is explored in its many forms and feelings. Tracing the journey of a family, as witnessed by the walls of the house they lived in, the show explores their relationships with each other and with their home. As they seek to find a new house, we are taken down memory lane of the bitter and sweet happenings over the years. The nuanced direction of Ariella Stoian brilliantly uses everyday objects to make meaning of people and their emotional journeys. The use of chalk, in particular, is a strong motif. It can be ea...