Bolton Octagon Theatre
Translator: Ranjit Bolt
Director: Paul Hunter
Reviewer: John Garfield-Roberts
This is the second show in current Artistic Director Mark Babych's final season and the last show for Director Paul Hunter as Associate Director, but what a fantastic send off Hunter has given himself with The Venetian Twins. Goldini's classic text from the 1700's has been given a modern and very northern translation by Manchester based playwright Ranjit Bolt. Telling the story of Identical Twins Zanetto & Tonino a typical farce of mistaken Identity as they plan to marry their prospective wives Rosaura and Beatrice.
Hunters direction of this play is superb this production flows with sheer speed and pace and at times found myself 
having to hold back the laughter so I could breathe. Hunter with his designer Michael Vale given the cast a perfect platform to clown around, with the theatre stripped down to its black walls and galleries, and a wooden thrust with mini trampettes surrounding provided the cast with an interesting way of coming and going without the joke ever wearing thin. An even more inspired choice was using the upper gallery as a Foley Studio using the actors to provide many sound effects for several of the scenes fights and sequences bringing many laughs throughout the evening. Although many choices went down well it is with regret that looking at the audience to the sides of the thrust didn't seem to be enjoying this production as much as those in the central section, mainly due to not being able to see quite a lot of the action due to poor blocking of certain key segments of the play.
having to hold back the laughter so I could breathe. Hunter with his designer Michael Vale given the cast a perfect platform to clown around, with the theatre stripped down to its black walls and galleries, and a wooden thrust with mini trampettes surrounding provided the cast with an interesting way of coming and going without the joke ever wearing thin. An even more inspired choice was using the upper gallery as a Foley Studio using the actors to provide many sound effects for several of the scenes fights and sequences bringing many laughs throughout the evening. Although many choices went down well it is with regret that looking at the audience to the sides of the thrust didn't seem to be enjoying this production as much as those in the central section, mainly due to not being able to see quite a lot of the action due to poor blocking of certain key segments of the play.The strength of any farce lies in the casts ability to be a true ensemble and this is a cast that works hard from beginning to end, supporting each other throughout and even laughing at the jokes which seem as fresh to the
company as when they first saw them in rehearsals by watching in the clearly vi sable 'wings.' This production has some of the strongest performances I have seen in a long time, Joanna Holden as Rosaura's maid Columbina provides a strikingly stunning performance very much akin to Julie Walters classic comedy character Mrs Overall, but it is the sheer dexterity and fitness and comic prowess of Nick Haverson as Zanetto/Tonino that is the cream on top of the cake, never on stage apart from Lee Evans have I seen a man giving so much physically to a performance, I felt tired watching him.
company as when they first saw them in rehearsals by watching in the clearly vi sable 'wings.' This production has some of the strongest performances I have seen in a long time, Joanna Holden as Rosaura's maid Columbina provides a strikingly stunning performance very much akin to Julie Walters classic comedy character Mrs Overall, but it is the sheer dexterity and fitness and comic prowess of Nick Haverson as Zanetto/Tonino that is the cream on top of the cake, never on stage apart from Lee Evans have I seen a man giving so much physically to a performance, I felt tired watching him. Its a pity that the theatre wasn't full for this production, but hopefully word of mouth will spread and the Octagon will see the audience attend that this show clearly deserves.
Photos: Ian Tilton
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