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Barrie arranged tickets for a group of us to go and see the Cambridge Footlights Spring Revue: People Watching. We had a few drinks to get us in the mood, and the atmosphere in the theatre was buzzing. The five cast were good—Will Seaward as an Angel was magnificent and I enjoyed Adam Lawrence’s animated jiggling style, which was very different from What’s Wrong with Angry! The writing wasn’t great—nothing edgy, no barbs, no politics, all quite gentle. A bit too much reliance on shock-words, which bordered on the distasteful. The unscripted errors with the curtain and one of the cast having a fir of giggles were high points. I did like the sketch about making a fishing documentary—where the movie exec was keen to have beautiful mermaids—with legs (and wanted an action thriller rather than a documentary)! Adam Lawrence in a yellow parker was slow motion fishing with his net when he was attached by the two leggy mermaids, slapping him around the face with fish, then Will Seaward entered with a fish mask on, semi naked, and shot him! It was great. There were some genuine laughs, and the Apocalypse theme worked well. Quite a few of the sketches didn’t deliver at the very end—the duck sketch was a great lead up, but failed to follow through.

Cast (from CAMDRAM) Tamara Astor, James Moran, Adam Lawrence, Rachel Scrivener, Will Seaward, Jacob Sharpe

From the ADC Theatre web site: Footlights Spring Revue: People Watching by Ben Ashenden, Mark Fiddaman and Alex Owen

The Heavens have been watching us. God isn’t happy. In fact, he’s so completely fed up that he’s decided enough is enough. Welcome to the sketch show that marries certain doom with reckless levels of funny.

The world-famous student comedy club brings you one of its’ biggest shows of the year. The Footlights Spring Revue is one of the most exciting and eagerly anticipated comedy events in Cambridge. It has sold out for the last four years in a row, and People Watching promises to be another smash hit.

All performances of People Watching are now sold out. A limited number of tickets may be available in the box office just before the start of each performance.

Great night out at the ADC to see the late night production of What’s Wrong With Angry?  by Patrick Wilde,

produced by the CU Amateur Dramatic Club. The audience was buzzing and the main cast were fantastic! Top of the bill were James Frecknell (Steven) and Lowri Amies (Linda)—both carried of their parts with ease and were perfect for the roles. I enjoyed Adam Lawrence as Hutton, the schoolteacher. He was interesting in the role, and really grabbed my attention.

For the first time in all the plays I’ve seen at the ADC there was an encore for the cast. Well deserved for giving such as a passionate production. The late night slot can be hit and miss—this was wonderful.

From the ADC web site:

“Of course I…want to, but I don’t want to want to.”

It is 1992, Section 28 prohibits the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools, and the age of consent for gay men is twenty-one. Sixteen year old Steven Carter, who is just fine with being “dodgy”, falls in love with John Westhead, head boy and popular sporty type. His love is returned until societal expectations force John back into “the closet”. As Steven comes up against pressure at home and at school, Hutton, his teacher, longs to give him some support, but finds that the law is not on his side.

Patrick Wilde wrote the play to challenge the assertion that it’s “easier to be gay now”. The issues that the play wrestles with are as applicable to 2009 as they are to the recent past and it remains a poignant, beautiful and honest tale.”