Guest Review: Nivelli's War by Cahoots NI at the MAC Belfast

By Dylan O'Rawe, aged 10

Tonight my mum and I went to see Nivelli's War.  It was the story of how a little boy called Ernst was evacuated to his aunt's house in the country when his city was bombed in World War 2.  He loved his mum very much and did not want to leave her, but it was too dangerous for him to stay and so he had to go so he would be safe.

When the war was over, a nice man helped him to find his way home even though when they first met each other they hated each other.  He showed Ernst magic tricks and then Ernst learned to do them himself.  When he grew up he became the great Nivelli, a magician.

I thought the story was really nice and I thought it was happy and sad.  I loved the magic tricks and the smoke which made it really spooky sometimes.  The music was cool and sometimes made me feel like something bad was going to happen.

My mum knows some people in the show and I knew Michael and Kerri because I've met them before with my mum.  All the actors were great but I thought that the great Nivelli was the best because he was really old and remembering back a long time and that was hard to act.  I loved Michael's smoke too and wanted there to be more, but I'm glad I wasn't sitting at the front.

I think all children should go to see the show because stories about the war are important for children to know about and history is really interesting.  If you like magic then you will love the trick at the end but my mum said not to write it here or I would spoil the surprise!

Dylan

Nivelli's War is at the MAC Belfast until Tuesday 11 March. Click here for tickets 

For tour dates check the Cahoots NI website by clicking here     

    

   

Romeo and Juliet

Tonight I went to see C21 Theatre Company's Romeo and Juliet at the Grand Opera House.  This is a show I last saw at the Globe Theatre and it lasted over 3 hours.  As we were in the Groundling area outdoors in the rain, my memory was that it was endlessly long and very uncomfortable.  C21 promised a shorter version aimed primarily at a secondary school audience.  The production comes in at 80 minutes which is perfect for it's audience.

First mention must go to Jolene O'Hara, a talented young actress who embodied the role of Juliet with ease.  Her delicate beauty and passionate performance was touching. The role of Juliet is a powerful one and I thought she dealt with it well. Romeo, played by Michael Lavery, was a good match for her in performance and also in passion.

The other cast members Mark Claney, Eoghan Lamb, Rachael McCabe and Dan Leith played various roles, and despite a few accent issues on occasion, all were strong.  As a whole the production enthralled the many teenagers in the audience. They sat wide eyed as the story developed and by the end a few were crying.

The show is touring to schools and thus the set and lighting was simple but effective.  The white nets of Juliet's balcony were put to good use as a symbol of innocence and virginity.  On the night of her marriage to Romeo, the lights coloured red and she was innocent no more.

Arthur Webb did a good job at directing the production.  His experience as an educator clear, his knowledge of teen minds meant that the audience's attention was not distracted.  Peppered with humorous moments, music and lots of not too passionate kissing, a teen audience will engage well.  Credit also is due for the adaptation which kept the scenes short and focussed.  A sterling presentation from C21 and great to see them in the Grand Opera House.

Click here to find out more about c21Theatre Company

Click here to book tickets for the Grand Opera House from 26 February - 2 March

Karen

http://twitter.com/classygenes

Bite sized Romeo and Juliet from c21 at the Grand Opera House

Next week I'm looking forward to seeing c21's bite sized version of Romeo and Juliet in the Baby Grand.

Sold as a turbo-charged, pared-down version of the famous romantic drama that will distill all the beauty, violence and tragedy of the original… but in less than 90 minutes.  The production has been especially adapted for schools and smaller theatre venues with the original script that has been adapted by Gary Wilson. 

Lisburn actor Michael Lavery and Belfast’s Jolene O'Hara star as the star-crossed lovers, heading up a dynamic cast bringing Shakespeare's words to exhilarating new life.  Shakespeare’s universally known language is still intact but in a more condensed and accessible form. The show will be directed by Arthur Webb who acknowledges that teachers often have a fear of teaching Shakespeare.  He promises that this new production makes the blank verse accessible and the narrative straightforward without diluting the enjoyment and sense. He finds that pupils are often more visual than auditory learners, as am I!

No longer a young upcoming company, c21 has been on the theatre scene in Northern Ireland now for 8 years.  It has established itself as a consistent and exciting player, staging a variety of productions from edgy comedy drama to pantomime.  The production is supported by Arts & Business and Burke Shipping Group.

The production opened today at the Craic in Coalisland, touring to the Grand Opera House, Riverside Theatre and Sean Hollywood Arts Centre as well as giving schools performances and workshops.

Click here to find out more about c21Theatre Company

Click here to book tickets for the Grand Opera House from 26 February - 2 March