And A Nightingale Sang – The Oldham Coliseum

Writer: C.P Taylor

Director: Sarah Punshon

Reviewer: M George

The Public Reviews Rating:

C P Taylor’s, who died in 1981, was a prolific writer of plays with over 70 to his name. One of his more successful and one of the few that gained a West End staging is his 1977 wartime piece And a Nightingale Sang. Currently playing at the Oldham Coliseum is a new production co-produced by the host theatre the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

The play is nostalgic comedy that is light on plot and irritably predictable, but is one that is easy to relate to, as it is about family and the nature of family relationships in difficult times. Central to this family is Helen played by Laura Norton, a fairly stoical and downtrodden girl with a mild disability who is the sense and sensibility of a greatly over dramatic and over-reactive family. Her flighty sister Joyce (Anna Doolan) is indecisive about whether she should marry young soldier Eric (Michael Imerson). Her harassed mother Peggy (Katherine Dow Blyton) is a staunch catholic whose reaction to her husband George’s joining of the communist party is not fully realised.

Simeon Truby, who should be commended for his singing and skills as a pianist, plays George in a competent performance. He plays a selection of well-known wartime songs well and confidently leads the cast in the chorus singing. Ged McKenna as the Grandfather of the family plays being drunk well, but his performance is out of kilt with the rest of the cast and he could do with toning it down a little.

Throughout the story Helen is involved with a moving, but doomed, love affair with another solider Norman, a pleasing performance by Jack Bennett, whose secrets bring the affair to its inevitably sad conclusion. Norton plays these final scenes beautifully and her overall transition and growth in character makes this one of the most interesting of a selection of fairly one dimensional and contrived characters.

This production originated in the round at Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and the re-staging for Oldham’s more traditional end on stage is only mildly successful. It does appear as if the cast need more room and there are moments of awkwardness as they weave in and out of each other’s way.

Designer Helen Goddard’s set has some nice features, the steps up to the park bench works particular well, but it dominates and overshadows the performers whilst the barrage balloons, although not out of context with the subject matter, look quite silly. However, the staging benefits from a good lighting design by Daniella Beattie.

Despite its many faults and whilst it’s clearly below the usual standard expected at the Coliseum, there are plenty of laughs on offer here and if you’re looking for a heart warming and simple night at the theatre, this might just be the play for you.