Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Charlotte Wilson, Bethany Slinn, Iona Campbell, Bryony Holloway, Geraint Williams, Darren Begley, Jack Conway, Alex Cottrell, Sarah Peverley.
There is always a new way to look at anything in life, it just takes courage, conviction and imagination and as the weather was making its mind on whether to add a little extra spice and atmosphere to the occasion, The University Of Liverpool Drama Society’s interpretation of Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market was weaving its dark, peculiar spell around a fascinated audience at the Kazimier Gardens ahead of it transferring to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
L.U.D.S. has a proven track record on putting on performances that seep into the subconscious and are as enthralling as you could ever hope to watch. Whether it was their version of The History Boys which captured the thrill of arguably one of Alan Bennett’s great plays or the unhinged sexual dynamic of Still Life or the disturbing look at a child murderer in Fanny And Faggot, L.U.D.S always seems to hit the nail upon the head and deliver something out of the ordinary.
Directed by Zoe Wiles, Goblin Market tore at the sensibilities, ravaged the understanding of the poem and left a wonderful teasing shadowy and sinister chill in the air as Rossetti’s masterpiece was given a new edge. It became a fantastic piece of theatre in which the Kazimier Gardens added to the occasion with its close proximity and with the ghoulish Goblin’s able to mix and wander around each audience member, looking them in the eye and inviting them into this innovative nightmare world.
With the added attraction of well performed music underpinning the play, delivered almost with a devilish glee by Alex Cottrell and Sarah Peverley, who made the harp sing like an angel fallen from grace but with the power to beguile and charm still left in its armour, the actors took the audience down a road nobody could have ever expected, brutally charming and sincere in its direction and completely absorbing.
With the excellent Iona Campbell as Jeannie, an incredible performance by Charlotte Wilson as the seduced Laura and a captivating Bethany Slinn as Lizzie, Goblin Market was just that, forbidden fruit wrapped up in female terror of what had been offered by the Goblin men. Those performing as the goblins were also captured superbly, giving of malevolence and the hint of overall wickedness needed to make the show stand out.
Goblin Market may have been staged out in the open air and away from the confines of the University’s hallowed halls but this was an excellent version of a classic poem bought superbly to life by L.U.D.S, great actors and a Director unafraid to enchant and use her imagination.
To see a preview of this show before it goes to The Fringe click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFcu4EOcpjw&feature=youtu.be
L.U.D.S will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at The Space at Surgeons Hall from the 12th -17th August at 4.20pm each day.
Ian D. Hall