Ashcan Theatre Company’s production of John Kolvenbach’s intriguing play “On An Average Day” at Faversham’s Arden Theatre provided audiences with a riveting and thought provoking experience. Right from the onset, with its perfectly conceived seedy set, lighting and excellently chosen music, the mood of tension, deception and edginess is superbly established.

The play, a two-hander, centres on the reunion of two brothers for the first time in 23 years and gradually reveals dark family secrets. Mike Rivarno and Brian Ross seized their roles and gave brilliant performances exposing layer-by-layer deep-seated conflicts inherited from their distressful childhood. Both are emotionally trapped in time, helplessly capable of violent explosive behaviour, without the means of escaping their destinies. The honesty of their performances engulfs us in their mysterious world rapidly moving from blackly comic moods, painfully pathetic revelations and inevitable violence. The two actors are at the top of their craft giving multi-faceted performances that skilfully compel us to share their pain and anguish.

Director Nigel Banks flawlessly weaves the play’s revelations with impeccable mood swings grabbing our attention and emotions. The physical climax of the two brothers coming to blows is most realistically staged taking our breath away as does the psychological beatings the characters undergo throughout the play. So superb is the direction that when the interval falls we resent its intrusion.

This production of “On An Average Day” is essential theatre and a great compliment to its excellence was the audience’s continued discussion of the play’s revelations throughout the interval and when the curtain came down. Congratulations Ashcan; I look forward to your next production.

Pip Piacentino.
Reviewer

Another excellent performance by Ashcan Theatre. The set was perfect, Nigel Banks' treatment of the piece deserves thunderous applause. But at the end of the day, it's the actors who have to bring it off - and they did a fantastic job. Well done Ashcan, we'll be back for more.
Mark Smith.
Audience member.

DINNER, DRINKS AND DRAMA

Ashcan Theatre Company has quickly become one of Kent’s premiere amateur theatre groups with its provocative choice of plays and brilliant staging of them. Arthur Miller’s little known one-act play Elegy for a Lady continues their successful track record with the added challenge of performing it on the small stage at Canterbury’s Farmhouse Restaurant following a meal and drinks.

Miller’s play is most ambiguous lending itself to many interpretations of the playwright’s intent. Ashcan’s production opens with the spotlight on “the Man” and then opening to include “the Proprietress” and then finally revealing a simple almost abstract set in a New York boutique. The set and excellent choice of introductory music provide a sympathetic background for the tale of a middle-aged man’s quest to buy a present for his dying younger mistress. During the course of finding the right present the man’s life and relationships emerge fuelled by direct questions and comments by the proprietress which force him to confront his non-commitment and at the same time explore the proprietress’s similarities to his mistress.

Is the man really in a boutique, does the mistress really exist, is the proprietress actually the mistress, or is it all in the man’s mind? All these questions surface and it is up to the audience to decide for themselves in Nigel Banks’ beautifully and intelligently directed production. The twists and turns intriguing capture the audience’s imagination. Brian Ross as the man gives a compelling understated natural performance while Sarah Gooch gives a highly effective stylised portrait of the proprietress. They complement each other superbly. Through their efforts a haunting image of life’s disappointments emerges.

For me the play takes place in the man’s mind and the proprietress is a figment of his imagination as he conducts an examination of self-discovery. The opening spotlight on the man is repeated in reverse order leaving him again alone. The proprietress seems to know a great deal about the man and his mistress before facts are revealed. The man astutely draws out revelations about the proprietress which in life he would have no access to.

This production has a dream like quality throughout. The human condition of the two characters is expertly and tightly conveyed with Arthur Miller giving his characters nicely observed mutual discoveries. Both actors give committed and fully-rounded performances savouring Miller’s wonderful dialogue. There is a sexual current between the two that gently emerges but is never fulfilled. The cast of two and director relish Miller’s brilliant dialogue with the man stating “There is nothing between us; nothing but non-commitment.” When the man entertains buying a bed-jacket, the proprietress remarks “There’s something non-committal about a bed-jacket.” The proprietress when learning the mistress doesn’t want the man to visit her in hospital explains “She wants her power back.” She chides him with “You sound as if you never had a significant talk.” Although the play last only 30 minutes there is considerable flesh and blood on these characters to savour..

I hope Ashcan will again stage a play at the Farmhouse Restaurant. You couldn’t hear a pin drop, a cough or restlessness during this totally successful production.

The Farmhouse is an extremely pleasant venue. The meal was delicious and the staff most efficient, helpful and friendly.

PIP PIACENTINO, Reviewer