Performances of a Lifetime
Garth WilshereI was delighted to catch this play years after it was last staged here.
It was intriguingly conceived by the performers, the redoubtable Helen Moulder and dance/ballet legend Sir Jon Trimmer, with director Sue Rider.
The play is a journey of discovery and suspense, a tour-de-force, with a surprising conclusion.
It is spare, tightly directed, beautifully evocative in its simple set design (originally David Thornley), lighting (Phillip Dexter and Deb Maguire) and conception.
Old ballet photos set the scene among packing cases as Sylvia (Moulder) recounts the narratives of her life, with her daughter now working in China, interrupted by the entrance of and encounters with, The Dancer (Trimmer), the famous Karpovsky of the photos.
Mute (bar one word near the end) with brilliant mime episodes and dance encounters with Sylvia, Trimmer is transfixing in his mood setting and performances.
Moulder, who carries the play and is the anchor in her exposition of the narrative and evocation of her life story; past, current, “present”, future, is simply magnificent in an, engaging and involving performance.
The multi-layered play it gently builds and draws you into her world and life.
Excellent lighting and atmosphere, the essence of being in a speeding train carriage with the outside lights flashing through the windows, racing to a suspenseful and unexpected conclusion is wonderfully captured.
These are performances of a lifetime from Moulder and Trimmer.









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