I’M WITH THE BAND | STAGE REVIEW
The Welfare,Ystradgynlais
Tues 17 Sep
An English man, a Scottish man, a Welsh man and an Irish man walk into a rehearsal room. The band are breaking up because Scotland wants to leave. Ireland has it’s own troubles and Wales wants it all to stay, you know, fine. England? He’s the lead singer. Enough said.
Tim Price’s latest play puts the Scottish referendum to music. Staged in an unravelling rehearsal room, Gruff, Barry, Damien and Aaron bring to the band their baggage from home, pushing each of them to the brink of a rock and roll guitar smash up.
The half gig half play works a treat, set against the backdrop of their work and amongst the tangle of cables demoing the mess it takes to make their latest album. There are some wonderfully comic moments from Matthew Bulgo and even the stereotyping of the foursome brings out some captivating scenes, notably Aaron’s, the Irish drummer, time on the microphone depicting the turmoil of his home life.
It doesn’t all work seamlessly. The concept was imaginative but sometimes forced. The characters embodiment of each country seems to constraint the script at times and some of the better moments dissolve into clunky dialogue or an out of place techno sequences. Saying that, it comes across with purpose, highlighting what it is to make music in an age when the romantic ideas of being a musician for the love of it gets swept aside in favour of paying the rent. Price crams in ideas but never slams down to a one-sided suggestion, leaving it as a mirroring of the political concerns and a thoughtful take on proceedings so far. It’s more a cornet solo than tuba parade.
The Coliseum, Aberdare, Wed 25 Sept & Thurs 26 Sept. Tickets: £8 – £12. Info: 08000 147 111 / www.coliseum.rct-arts.org
Theatre Brycheinog, Brecon, Wed 2 & Thurs 3 Oct. Tickets: £6 -£8. Info: 01874 611622 / www.brycheiniog.co.uk
Gwyn Hall, Neath, Fri 11 & Sat 12 Oct. Tickets: £5 – £9. Info: 03000 365 6677 / www.gwynhall.com
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Wed 16 – Sat 19 Oct. Tickets:£8 – £12. Info: 029 2063 6464 / wmc.org.uk
words: BETH GRANT
photo: JEREMY ABRAHAMS