23-26 March 2011
Pirandello’s classic post-modern drama is brought up to date to reflect 21st century ideas. A group of documentary makers are interrupted in their editing suite by six fictional characters, abandoned by their author, who need their story to be told. They force the producer to confront reality and fiction, stressing that fiction is in some ways more real than reality.

This production used multimedia for possibly the first time in the Society’s history, with scenes filmed beforehand and shown on screen, including one scene shot in the Five Bells pub near the village hall.
Review by Chelsfield Village Voice
When I found I was having difficulty in understanding the Director’s programme notes, I knew that it was going to be hard work for me! Some quotes are: “fractured reality”, “holding a mirror up to nature”, “challenges us to examine how we view reality”. Despite this disconcerting introduction the play was gripping throughout. Although the programme suggested a great deal of humour, I and the rest of the audience seemed miss this aspect.

This play, by Luigi Pirandello, was first written in 1921. This version by [Rupert Goold and] Ben Power is brought right up to date, and includes topical issues. As the play progresses we are shown that fiction can be more real than any reality, reality changes but fiction stays eternal. Once a character’s story is told, they take on a life of their own.

A group producing a Docu Soap (or was it a Drama Documentary) on assisted suicide are surprised by the sudden appearance of a strange family of six claiming to be fictional characters, with their own problems and story to tell. Are these imaginary or real, and what is reality?

Clever use was made of a large TV screen to show live video produced on and off stage (or was it live?) and during scene changes.

Our perception of reality was further challenged when the director re-ran parts of the play, like a recording [“Director’s Cut”] with comments about Bromley Little Theatre. Obviously not in the original!

Particularly worthy of mention are Glen Aylott and Lana Beckwith playing the roles of The Father and The Producer respectively. This was a strong, thought provoking play, and certainly challenging for the audience as well as for the cast who succeeded admirably, leaving most of us stunned into silence at the end.

This play is the Chelsfield Players entry for the Bromley Theatre Guild Festival 2011.

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away”
Philip K Dick

A view from the stalls