Review - Henceforward at Royal & Derngate, Northampton

There was a strange atmosphere for the production by the legendary Alan Ayckbourn
HenceforwardHenceforward
Henceforward

And it wasn't just because of the lack of bums on seats for the Monday night performance at the Royal & Derngate. It may well have been because this was a show that is very difficult to get a handle on.

It sees a composer Jerome struggling to put together a masterpiece. It's been four years since he ever composed anything and not co-incidentally, it has been four years since his wife and daughter left him.

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So he concocts a plan to get his daughter back involving an actress/escort and a deranged child loving android. Which seems like a perfectly normal thing to do.

I will avoid major spoilers as there are plenty of twists but the first half in particular is very hard going. While there is a lot of things to explain that do pay off for amusing effect in the second half, the points are sometimes laboured a little too much which is a shame as I get the feeling that with removing around half an hour's worth of material would result in a much better piece.

Which is a shame as there is a lot to admire in the show, particularly the performances and the setting. When anyone attempts science fiction, you have to create a convincing world and that is very difficult within the confines of a theatre setting. But there is an admirable attempt to create a world where law and order has broken down and a future which looks like it might be ominously close.

But it is the skill of the performers which probably carries this play through. Laura Matthews stands out as Zoe, a wannabe actress but actual first time escort, in creating the character's enthusiasm and desperation of the situation she finds herself. She re-appears in the second half in a very different role and she is pitch perfect, but it would spoil the surprise if I said it was.

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And Jacqueline King as the deranged android is a delight to watch, even more in the second half when she plays... ah well, that would be telling.

Bill Champion's Jerome perhaps could be a tad more likeable for me but his performance certainly conveys the dismay and despair of a creative type completely out of inspiration.

But this is an interesting play albeit quite flawed. But one that raises quite a few of laughs and one that hopefully gets a better audience throughout the run.

Henceforward can be seen at Northampton's Royal & Derngate until Saturday February 11. For tickets call the box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

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