THE SECRET LIVES OF HENRY AND ALICE
NASDA Theatre, E Block, CPIT, Christchurch
29/01/2014 - 02/02/2014
Production Details
THE SECRET LIVES OF HENRY AND ALICE is a clever, witty, sparkling comedy by David Tristram that will guarantee laughter of recognition from any who have been in long-term relationships! Henry and Alice’s lives have become a bit humdrum but their fantasy lives are certainly not!
ONE MAN BANNED Productions is an independent professional Christchurch theatre company founded by Martin Howells and Helen Moran. Martin is a long-time performer at the Court Theatre but has more recently been Artistic Director of the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin, and been working on independent projects. One Man Banned Productions is offering a return season of UK hit comedy THE SECRET LIVES OF HENRY AND ALICE that played last May in Christchurch and toured down south to Wanakafest and Timaru over Labour weekend. This season goes from January 29th – February 9th and has a range of times to suit all lifestyles.
Real life husband and wife, Martin Howells (well-known to Christchurch audiences for many productions at the Court Theatre) and Helen Moran (The Bone Keeper’s Story and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf 2011) star in this outrageously funny two-hander by UK playwright David Tristram.
For Henry Smith – actor, raconteur, sporting hero, leading socialite, secret agent, Casanova and acting president of the United States – life was rarely dull.
For Alice Smith, housewife, life was rarely anything else.
Enter Michel, French waiter – tall, dark and available. Exactly what happened next, no-one’s quite sure. Except that it involved a rotting melon, a deckchair and a bottle of neck-rub.
Fantasy burs into reality. Secret passions explode. And the two worlds which seem a million miles apart are suddenly on a collision course.
It could only happen to Henry and Alice. And only their pet goldfish, Orca, and you, will ever know the true story.
At NASDA Theatre, E Block, CPIT
Wednesday January 29th 8 pm
Thursday January 30th 6 pm
Friday January 31st 8 pm
Saturday February 1st 8 pm
Sunday February 2nd 4 pm
Bookings: www.dashtickets.co.nz or 0800 327 484
Actors: Martin Howells and Helen Moran
Director Martin Howells
Assistant Directors David Allen, Julian Anderson
Set Design Chris Reddington
Technical operator Stephen Brinkhurst
Produced by One Man Banned Productions
Supported by IMAGINE Charitable Trust
Thanks to
Louisa Clarkson, Anne Clarkson, NASDA, Julian Anderson, David Allen
Theatre ,
Well-worn but still welcome
Review by Lindsay Clark 30th Jan 2014
Domestic quibbling is given a rigorous – though possibly not exhaustive – once-over in this gently satirical comedy. The real life of Henry and Alice Smith is contrasted regularly with fantasy escapes, played by the same two actors.
The one existence has all the hallmarks we sadly enough expect: the talking past each other, the routine sparring… The other, a cornucopia of fantasies announced by appropriate music, plays up the sorts of qualities we can enjoy about each locale.
The husband and wife team of Helen Moran and Martin Howells plays a return production of the piece with seasoned ease. Both roles call for versatility and intelligent cueing. The rapport between these two allows each to make the most of pauses and comically inept communication, while each operates with assurance in the fantasy sequences. My favourites are the cruise chick and soignée sophisticate for her, James Bond and Mancunian comedian for him. .
An enlightening metaphor for their skirmishes and general lack of fulfilment is provided by the goldfish, given a prominent place on the stage. His endlessly repeated circles suggest where we would be heading with the protagonists until a surprising rapprochement evolves in time for a happy ending. Poor Orca, the goldfish, does not come out of it as well.
Director Simon Hartwell pulls together a competent team to establish the Smith domestic scene. Chris Reddington’s set, lit by Stephen Brinkhurst deals straightforwardly with the workshop space and a jolly reception team sees the audience nicely tuned even before the entertainment proper begins.
Without scaling the heights of hilarity, the plentiful laughter attending this production is a bit like the comfy slipper Henry likes to hide to keep his wife feeling purposeful – well-worn but still welcome.
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