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| Faith Healer |
TIDEMARK is a small St Albans theatre company with huge talent and watching one of its productions is invariably rewarding.
That is certainly true of its current production of Brian Friel's Faith Healer which is being performed in the Studio at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans until Saturday.
A powerful and moving play, it is a gripping piece of theatre which relies on the monologues of three characters to give a complete picture of the life and times of the faith healer in question, Frank Hardy.
Performing and directing Faith Healer is no walk in the park but director Rosemary Goodman has a wealth of experience and brings out the best in her team of three actors.
John Stenhouse is exceptionally good as Frank, the travelling healer who has toured the length of breadth of this country before returning to his native Ireland.
At times delusional - particularly about his relationship with his wife/lover Gracie - at other times he is completely realistic about his "gift" and whether or not a cure is going to be effected.
There is a strong sense of destiny in John's performance and a particularly moving last few minutes in his second monologue - he is the only character to have two.
Rebecca Russell is Grace and her recollections of life with Frank from her small bedsit where she wiles away her days with help from the bottle are shockingly different from his.
She gives a mesmerising performance as a woman who has suffered terribly in the past including having two miscarriages and giving birth to a stillborn child. But while her story shows she cannot live with Frank, it is patently clear that she cannot live without him.
Perhaps the most interesting character is Teddy, Frank's manager, who demonstrates a loyalty to his client which borders on absolute devotion. Although Martin Goodman as Teddy is the least assured of the three actors, he brings a lightness to the part which is a relief after Grace's sad attempts to get her life back on track.
Again he looks at their story from a different viewpoint and one that somehow seems the most believable of the three. Teddy's recounting of one particular night where Frank cures 10 people in a small church hall is particularly spellbinding.
Local theatregoers should not pass up the chance to see a play of the calibre of Faith Healer performed by a talented and ambitious company. Tickets can be obtained from the Abbey Theatre box office on 01727 857861.
A gala charity performance of Tidemark's Regina Monologues, written by Rebecca Russell and Jenny Wafer, is being held at the Abbey Theatre Studio on Sunday, December 2, in aid of the charity Bosom Buddies Trust.
Regina Monologues is based on the six wives of Henry VIII but brought bang up to date with some intriguing modern twists. It charts the relationship of each woman through a series of monologues that are funny, moving and sad.
There will be food and wine served from 7pm and the performance starts at 8pm. Coffee and sweet canapés will be served after the performance and it is all included in the ticket price of £20.
Tickets are available from the Abbey Theatre on the number above.
MADELEINE BURTON
© Herts Advertiser 2007. Reproduced by permission