The Gift of Stones, Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond

I HAVE enjoyed everything that North Country Theatre has produced – until now. Nobby Dimon’s adaptation of Jim Crace’s Novel, The Gift of Stones, is rambling and nonsensical. It’s slow to the point of yawning and doesn’t reflect Crace’s insightful poetic novel where the misfit storyteller has a charming charisma that is sadly missing from this Bronze Age story.

I just wasn’t engaged with the one-armed father’s narration, which lacked pace and believability. Not one of Dimon’s best character’s to say the least.

The set was simply a collection of heavy tree stumps and a pile of deer antlers, which became birds, weapons and cleverly represented the flight of geese. While the creative LED back lighting was innovative, courtesy of the Georgian’s production manager Tony Wilcock, the silhouetted figures wasted so much time moving the stumps around in the dark it was exasperating and incredibly time consuming.

I liked Alice Lawson’s costumes made of patchwork leather and the backcloth was rather amazing, although it isn’t credited to anyone.

Vivienne Garnett as the well acted daughter is the production’s saving grace; she also gave a great performance as Doe.

Dave Harris’ music was evocative the first couple of times I heard it, but it was on a loop which jumped in the middle and was repeated so many times it too became annoying.

Maybe picking up the pace would knock ten minutes off each half and with a few tweaks this production will improve, but for now, I prefer it on the page.

* Tour dates: Oct 16, Barnard Castle Parish Hall (01748-825288), Oct 17 The Forum, Northallerton (01609-776230).

Touring locally: northcountrytheatre.com for schedule.

Helen Brown