Synopsis
Programme
Impressions/Performances
New Perspectives' two-handed studio-style production is part drama, part history lesson and part knockabout comedy. It tells the all too unsung story of Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown, two intrepid post First World War aviators who braved tremendous odds to make the first non-stop Transatlantic crossing. Why? because it needed to be done - because the World needed to see that it could be done! You may well have heard of Alcock and Brown, but what do you really know about them?
Their 'crate' was a relatively fragile wood and canvas framed Vickers Vimy bomber, carefully converted for the attempt according to Alcock, the pilot's, own plans. To navigate the 1890 mile journey, at a time when the limited navigational aids available meant that it was generally regarded impossible to navigate reliably beyond 1000 miles, they trusted to Brown's dead-reckoning genius - despite the fact he had never actually navigated an aeroplane before!. Without even an airfield to take off from they were indebted to one of their competitors allowing them to use his airfield whilst his own aircraft was being repaired. Eventually they took off. Travelling at a speed of a little over 100 miles per hour the journey, from Newfoundland in an open cockpit in atrocious weather, would take a gruelling sixteen hours before they eventually came down in an Irish bog. It made them instant national heroes, feted wherever they went. Fame which, unfortunately, has now largely faded.
As soon as we enter the auditorium we encounter our two actors, C.P. Hallam as Alcock and Richard Earl as Brown, in character welcoming us in - when not sparring with each other! When the action begins, both are splendid in capturing the stiff-upper-lipped bravodo of their somewhat eccentric characters, and feed off each other in a great comic partnership - as well as playing a myriad of ancillary characters as the drama unfolds.
The first act takes us through their meeting and all of the preparations for the record breaking attempt, eventually culminating with the assembly of the famous aircraft - recreated on stage using tables, chairs, dustbin lids, canvas and various other props. The much funnier second half then carries us with them as their journey of a lifetime gets under way. Sustained by sandwiches, Fry's chocolates and flasks of hot cocoa, they huddle in their open cockpit battling against high winds and freezing temperatures - Alcock glued to the aircraft's controls and Brown, despite his gammy leg, climbing out onto the wings to chip ice from the engine air intakes. All this is presented in whimsical tongue-in-cheek fashion - funny, witty and interspersed with bouts of blundering tomfoolery.
It is directed with great pace and vigour which keeps the laughs flowing and develops a stirringly patriotic feelgood factor. But there is much more than that to savour in this eclectic production - it's an exciting story which contrasts the humour with moments of thrilling high drama, moving pathos and, of course, stereotypically British decency, fair play and no-complaints fortitude. It is rewarding entertainment that does full justice to these almost forgotten, very Britsh heroes.
Verdict
Imaginative, informative and highly entertaining. The most enjoyable history lesson of the century.
Don Gillan - www.stagebeauty.net