The Rainbow Chasers
Reviewed by R.J-D. for The Croydon Advertiser
World premiere
It is rare for an amateur society to present the premiere of a new play, and perhaps even rarer for the play to be especially written for that society.
This was the case, however, on Saturday when Theatre Workshop Coulsdon presented “The Rainbow Chasers” by Faith Brooker.
It would be nice to record that the evening was an unqualified success, but the general effect was marred by some hazy moments both in the production and the writing and a climax that was ruined by a tape recorder that failed and two members of the audience who childishly let off a stink bomb.
The play tells of four children who, while on holiday in Wales, discover that the colours of the rainbow are being enticed from the spectrum, one by one.
Each colour seems victim of a different ploy and captor, and it was in this area particularly that I felt the play should have been more explicit. Characters such as Hecate and Hemlock appeared too briefly to really register. Motives and allegiances were often unclear, people who were enemies one minute seemed allies the next. If all had been acting as unwilling agents of the Moon (who was after the rainbow to outshine the Sun), this should have been better conveyed.
Costumes and effects showed considerable imagination, and Tim Andrews and Jon Summers made a strong contribution by writing a very catchy theme song, “Rainbow Children.”
Olivia Turner, Judy Munn, Tim Warner and Clare Loosemore appeared as the children. From the remainder of the large cast I particularly liked Paul Cooper’s Yiddisher Dragon, Bob Brown’s Violet (in spite of the roving accent), Bob Baker’s Blue, Hazel Moar’s Morgana and Martin Cole’s Merlin. The production was by Terry Cockell and Tim Young.
Cast Details:
Wise Owl
Jon Summers
Fiona
Olivia Turner
Jessica
Judy Munn
Tarquin
Tim Warner
Justine
Clare Loosemore
Violet
Bob Brown
Morgana le Faye
Hazel Moar
Hecate; Moon Diana
Maureen Hoy
Hemlock; Black Demon; Red
Marc Weston
Indigo
Liz Sutton
Merlin
Martin Cole
Blue
Bob Baker
Andeline
Chrissie Cooper
Green
Tim Young
Weather Wizard
Chris Argles
Dragon-Under-The-Hill
Paul Cooper
Yellow
Jane Andrews
Witches
Allyson Crassky
Witches
Karen Theis
White Demon; Thunderbolt
Nils Lav
Snowmaid
Loraine Garrett
Rainchild; Mermaid
Ellen Lav
Lizardmen; Moonhunter; Merman
Clive Munford
Lizardmen
Steve Sheldon
Technical Crew Details:
Director
Terry Cockell
Director
Tim Young
Stage Manager
Gareth Turner
Technical Adviser
Cliff Palmer
Lighting
Chris Garrett
Sound
Paul Cooper
Make-Up
Nigel Sorensen
Band Details:
Played and Sang Theme Song;
Tim Andrews
Played and Sang Theme Song;
Jon Summers
Played and Sang
Martin Cole
Played and Sang
Tony Newlands
Song Accompaniment
Nigel Sorensen