Brief Encounter, West Yorkshire Playhouse
HEAR the title Brief Encounter and what comes to mind? Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson keeping terribly, terribly stiff upper lips as they fight their mutual attraction amid the steamfilled platforms of Milford Junction.
Youfll find all that, and a whole lot more, in adapter and director Emma Ricefs dazzlingly different production for Kneehigh Theatre.
The doomed romance of Alec (Tristan Sturrock) and Laura (Naomi Frederick), both married with children to other people, is one of three love matches unfolding as Rice goes back to Noel Cowardfs original stage play, Still Life.
The production also features such unexpected delights as trampolining, flying, a model train and a pair of transvestite musicians to assist when characters burst into Cowardesque song.
This is Brief Encounter, but not as you know it, as Cowardfs story is given the Kneehigh treatment that mixes passionate romance with broad comedy, physical theatre and back projection. Itfs even worth coming back early from the interval to watch the mock cinema adverts.
This is a show full of invention and, some might say, gimmicks, but which always has its heart in the right place as well as the spectacular visuals.
Tristan Sturrock and Naomi Frederick bring an intense romantic outlook to the would-be lovers, brought together when he removes a piece of grit from her eye.
Amanda Lawrence has some fine comic moments as scooterriding Beryl, while Tamzin Griffin, Stuart McLoughlin and Andy Williams contribute sterling work too.
Until November 10. Tickets 0113-2137700 or book online www.wyp.org.uk Steve Pratt
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