(Bryan Hiles)
While it is a
one-man play, there is no doubt that the lighting is the co-star. (Review
by Keith Millar)
Bryan Hiles is
without doubt one of Durban’s finest and most versatile actors. One only has to
think of his extraordinary performance as the Big Friendly Giant in the recent
production of Roald Dahl’s BFG, by
the KickstArt Production Company or, for that matter, his handling of role of
Amos Hart in their production of Chicago.
His interpretation of Mr Cellophane in
that musical still lives large in my mind.
Now he shows off his
skills as the story teller in Michael Taylor-Broderick’s whimsical tale, Jakob which could be seen in the Drama
Centre at this year’s recent Hilton Arts Festival.
Needles to say, he
handles this tricky and physical one-man production with considerable skill and
aplomb. Along the way, he creates a host of differing and believable
characters. All of who inhabit the remote rural village that is the setting for
Jakob.
The play was adapted
for stage by Clare Mortimer from a short story by theatre lighting guru Michael
Taylor-Broderick who also directs the production. He was also, by the way, the
Festival’s Technical Director.
Jakob is an enigmatic, ethereal and poetic folk tale of a young boy who fears
light. He tries everything to block it out or to capture it. The story deals
with themes of love, light and prejudice. It is told in lovely descriptive
prose, and with a light Afrikaans accent, which Hiles delivers with style.
His excellent
performance earned him a standing ovation from the capacity audience in the
theatre.
As light plays a
major role in this story, the lighting design is of much importance and it is
superb, as maybe one should expect with the involvement of Taylor-Broderick in
the production. While it is a one-man play, there is no doubt that the lighting
is the co-star.
Also of note is the
superb atmospheric music by Shannon Hope used in the production.
It seems that it is
not often that these festival pieces make it to the stage afterwards and, of
course, Durban’s paucity of viable theatres exacerbates this problem. However,
if Jakob proves the exception, it is
well-worth seeing. – Keith Millar
Posts
