Wonder Show Reviews
Spellbinding piece
from Rogue Theatre
Madame Lucinda’s Wonder Show
Review by Sandra Trewhela
Burrell Theatre, Truro
The West Briton, Thursday October 26th 06
Roll up, Roll up!! Madame Lucinda’s Wonder Show which is touring Cornwall.
This thought provoking piece will keep you spellbound with a mix of pathos, unrequited love, circus skills, acrobatics, comedy, ballet, haunting music, song and clever staging.
How lucky we are in Cornwall to have so many innovative, talented thespians and Rogue Theatre must be among the best.
Angelina Boscarelli – now there’s a name to conjure with – directs this spectacular and as ring master draws us in to events in front and behind the curtain, a very vibrant and compelling character.
Multi talented Ollie Oakenshield as Sirus who was stuck in his humdrum job and ran away to the circus, holds our attention throughout, while Wendy Taylor who plays Svetlana, a wooden ballerina with such skill that I could not take my eyes off her.
Sally Crooks proves that the show must go on after bravely defying her doctor to play Pops The Clown who eventually strips, – that should pull in the crowds!
Before our very eyes she turns into a beauty ready to return to her former life. A few days earlier Sally had missed the acrobatic bar and badly broken her wrist, but with nine pins, three plates and not a wince she performed for our delectation.
Rogue Theatre’s trump card Ben Sutcliffe the musical director. A fantastic musician, he played various instruments assisted with vocals, and obviously has a rosy future.
Because the company plays in many small halls and venues, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a small time theatre company, step right up while you can still afford the ticket.
“An intriguing mix of magic, music, mime and metaphor.
Carnglaze Caverns
St. Neot
Review by Lee Trewhela
The West Briton
PROVING there’s more to Cornish theatre than Kneehigh and The Hall For Cornwall, Rogue has ended its tour at the suitably unique Carnglaze Caverns on Saturday.
Like an eerie old fairy story, this piece – written by Anna Maria Murphy – was an intriguing mix of magic, music, mime, mirth and metaphor.
Madame Lucinda (Angelina Boscarelli) collects performers for her circus but in one way or another they all escape her grasp.
There is Sirus (Ollie Oakenshield) who ditches his mundane office job to become a master magician. He in turn falls for Svetalna, the dancing doll, played magnificently by Wendy Taylor.
It is when Svetlana is featured that the production raises its game and truly mesmerises.
Last but not least, we have Pops the clown, played by Sally Crooks, whose love is snubbed by Sirus and – in possibly the most affecting scene – disrobes and transforms into a beauty while the rest of the cast play a rousing rendition of Nina Simone/Muse’s “Feeling Good”.
The real star of the show was the one-man musical whirlwind Ben Sutcliffe. Is there anything this man can’t play?”
