The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui
Cast Details:
The Announcer, Fish
Keith Walton
Old Dogsborough
Tim Warner
Givola
Paul Cooper
Giri
Marc Weston
Arturo Ui
Cliff Palmer
Flake, Defence Counsel, Ciceronian
Liz Sutton
Clark
Lesley Argles
Caruther, Vegetable Dealer, The Prosecutor
Maureen Hoy
Butcher, Vegetable Dealer
Terry Cockell
Mulberry, Vegetable Dealer, Reporter
Chrissie Cooper
Sheet, Inna
Ian Pratt
Young Dogsborough, Bodyguard
Clive Munford
Roma
Tim Young
Dockdaisy, Vegetable Dealer
Loraine Garrett
Ragg, Ciceronians
Robin Hunt
Bookie, Reporter, Vegetable Dealer
Nickie Daines
Bookie, Bodyguard, The Judge, Ciceronian
Bob Stembridge
Bowl, Reporter
Chris Woolgar
Butler, Bodyguard
Martin Cole
Goodwill
Neila Emmerton
Gaffles, Bodyguard
Judy Munn
O’Casey
Karen Theis
Reporter, Mrs Dullfeet
Jane Andrews
Reporter, The Woman, Circeronian
Sheran Harmes
Reporter, Ignatius Dullfeet, Ciceronian
Olly Turner
Reporter
Julia Young
Bodyguard
Ian Pratt
Actor, Doctor
Bob Baker
Vegetable Dealer, Hook
Bob Brown
Little Girl
Kate Andrews
Technical Crew Details:
Director and Producer
Chris Argles
Sound and Lighting
Chris Garret and Bob Harmes
Stage Manager
Bob Brown
Stage Crew
Richard Westlake, Bob Baker, Jonathan Summers
Sets and Graphics
Terry Cockell, Nigel Sorenson
Make Up
Nigel Sorensen
Slides
Marina Foxlee
Prompt
Hazel Moar
Reviewed by R.J.-D. for The Croydon Advertiser, Friday 7th July 1978
Brecht is bold TWC choice
Never less than venturesome, Theatre Workshop Coulsdon can seldom have been as ambitious as in their current offering, Bertolt Brecht’s “The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui” (final performance tomorrow at 7:45).
Set in the gangster-ridden precincts of early ‘thirties Chicago, it has undoubted appeal for the young, enthusiastic performer. Its multitude of seemingly stock characters proffer a protective mantle for the inexperienced actor and, indeed, the play can be highly successful given but a superficial approach.
The author parallels the rise of his small-time gang leader with that of Adolf Hitler, during the years of 1932-39.
Each scene is followed by the screening of a factual news headline of events in pre-war Germany, which echo those of their fictional American counterparts. The impact of these clippings was considerably minimised, on this occasion, because they were almost unreadable.
The large and predominantly young cast, under the expert direction of Chris Argles, were not altogether successful in creating the aura of predatory evil but there were many performances of high standard.
Cliff Palmer was perhaps more passive than demonstrative as Ui but he had a good dominating stage presence. Tim Young gave a strong contribution as his sidekick Roma, and Liz Sutton gave two polished characterisations as Flake and the Defence Counsel.
Loraine Garret created a typical gangster’s moll as Dockdaisy and Paul Cooper a likeable villain as Givola. Tim Warner made a believable old man as Dogsborough senior.
This society obviously works as a team, however, and each member contributed equally to the production’s success.