The Gift and The Glory
Theatre premier by the Dukes, Lancaster
runs from Wednesday 31 March – Saturday 24 April 2010
review by Alan Chard
Production photographs : Press Release : Review
the Gift & the Glory
The Dukes presents the premiere of
The Gift and The Glory
By John Moorhouse & Lisa Evans
31 March – 24 April 2010
It's not often that one has the opportunity to attend the premiere production of a new play, and on this occasion two plays, albeit written as a pair.
This double-bill of new plays is set in the UK Lake District, and the set portrays that admirably, being a high-level view somewhat like a map laid our before us, with huge stones forming the high fells. These massive rocks were brought from the local quarry at Carnforth, just north of Lancaster
Written in tandem by John Moorhouse and Lisa Evans, The Gift and The Glory is the story of two different pairs of people. Lifelong friends Tom and Jed hike a familiar trail in the Lakeland fells in The Gift. This hike is different because for one of them it will be his last opportunity as revealed slowly and purposefully throughout the action.
Glory, Glory is set three months later when a new pair of friends hike that same route. Joy and Lizzie, mid-thirties women, are growing old disgracefully. These two share gin and are altogether more bawdy.
The differences between the men and the women could not be more stark, the levels of personal 'openness' and the ways in which their inner thoughts are shared is totally different. The women's language is more 'vernacular' too.
Both plays are highly amusing, but thought-provoking.
This was my first theatre premiere, so I had nothing to fall back on, no safety-net of other people's thoughts to consult, but this was a unique night, well worth seeing. The cast sang before the play began in a very informal way, and had excellent voices. A very entertaining and thought-provoking evening that is heartily recommended.
Alan Chard, April 2010