REVIEW BY GEORGE HUMMER- TASTE

"TASTE"
George Hummer made it to the Theatre and wrote this review
for the Chippy News where it will appear in the November Issue

TASTE by Louise Page is a full-scale collaboration between The Theatre Chipping Norton and the Th��tre du Pr�au of Normandy, northern France. The setting is the living room of a Norman farmhouse. Theatrical legend and logic say that artistically and logistically it won�t work. And yet it does. Triumphantly. Much of the credit for that must go to those who had the courage to use a massive, handsome, pine farmhouse-style table as a dominant, no-speaking part of the cast of characters. More than one person in the audience said that the play should be titled The Table.

Caroline Sharman directs with a firm hand. The dialogue and action peel away obscuring layers of defences and attitudes to show what it has taken to survive two wars and uncountable domestic upheavals. The family and the farm have come through, not unscathed but nevertheless the story expresses an attitude that there was cleansing to be done and if it was ever ruthless, it was for a good reason and in a good cause. Now the family and the farm must be put back together, another formidable task that has everyone undaunted. The nine characters are played by four very clever communicative actors, aided by Alonso Mendoza�s good, apt music. On the stage from time to time, but more often �backstage� in full view Ceci Magee cooks and sends out to the audience a stream of delicious things to taste. Outstanding among these goodies are a mild vegetarian curry and finally a portion of apple crumble that brings the curtain down on a memorable event.