Akenfield - on tour
Photos: Josh Clements
Review by Catherine Larner.
When a book and a film are held in such reverence and affection as ‘Akenfield’, it’s a bold decision to take it to the stage. But this has been very much a passion project by the director and producer, Jenny Hall, and her pedigree and associations with the film have lent her perfectly to the task.
Her father, the late Sir Peter Hall, directed the film in 1975, and she sought to honour the 50th anniversary of its release, pulling this production together in a few short months. The script (written by her husband, TV producer Glenn Wilhide) and the cast (including Helen Shand who appeared in the film and married its leading man Garrow Shand) were only confirmed in May.
Now touring community venues throughout Suffolk this autumn, the first night was received by a hugely appreciative capacity audience at Framlingham’s Old Theatre, and the humour, poignancy and creativity of the production are all in keeping with what the book and film achieved so many years earlier.
Published in 1969, ‘Akenfield’ relates the joys and hardships of country life from 1880 to 1967, compiled through conversations between author Ronald Blythe and his neighbours in rural Suffolk. The book introduces 49 ordinary people – horseman, labourer, soldier, teacher, housewife among them – as fictionalised oral histories.
For the film, telling the story of three generations of one family, Sir Peter Hall cast ordinary people rather than actors, and encouraged them to improvise their dialogue.
The play manages to capture all this and more with Ronnie Blythe here being centre stage revealing something of his own life, his place in the community and the pleasure and challenges of writing. It’s cleverly and beautifully done with the fourth wall repeatedly broken as we are reminded that we are all still part of the story of life in Suffolk.
Taken through the seasons of the year - with glorious cloth hangings presenting an organic stage set designed by acclaimed sculptor Laurence Edwards - Ronnie introduces us to the landscape, the wildlife and the people as he would have done in his weekly columns called ‘Tales from Wormingford’, which he contributed to the ‘Church Times’ over many decades.
He wheels his bike onto the stage for each section and delivers a monologue, his slightly affected speech being fey and ‘proper’. Played by one of the only professional actors in the cast, James Crawley, it is competently done, though really comes alive when he interacts with other members of the cast in the scenes drawn from the book - the schoolroom, pub, ‘big house’, worker’s cottage and many more.
The depiction of ploughing the field is fantastic - simply done but brilliantly executed.
The music, composed by Finn Collinson, feels incidental to the production at times, a little tentative and almost apologetic even though it’s effective and moving - a recorder off stage creates the sound of church bells. But the two ensemble pieces when cast, guitar and violin come together in joyful folk songs were fabulous and clearly enjoyed by the cast as much as the audience.
The authentic Suffolk accents among the cast of eight were glorious to hear and all gave compelling performances, with presence and conviction, despite not being professional actors. The costumes were also beautiful and in keeping.
Though the production would welcome some tightening in places and smoother, more confident and more effective stage direction, this is a tremendous achievement and brings ‘Akenfield’ alive to a new audience.
Great acting, script and concept.
Akenfield is at Eastern Angles Centre, Ipswich on 2 - 3 October.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE
Also on tour. Click HERE for details.