Rating:
Verdict: More commendable than enjoyable
Shakespeare s The Winter’s Tale is sometimes categorised as a ‘problem’ play. The problem is that some scholars think it’s an unhappy mix of tragedy and comedy.
All’s not well that doesn’t end as they like it, in the story of jealous King Leontes, who turns on his innocent wife, puts her on trial for adultery and abandons their newborn babe on a mountain.
The real problem, though, is how to help an audience enjoy a story that’s a freewheeling yarn playing fast and loose with time, space and a prophetic Oracle to achieve its magical conclusion.
CELLS a New Musical Film starring Clive Rowe and Lem Knights
April 26, 2021 Last updated:
April 25, 2021
I’m starting to wonder if it’s a lockdown thing, as this isn’t the first production I’ve come across recently where the story is about discovery. Not the kind of discovery where someone goes travelling alone in order to clear their minds and hopefully sort their lives out – public health restrictions both here and abroad largely prohibit that in any event. Rather, JoJo (Leon Knights) happens to meet, apparently by chance, Neil (Clive) at a burger joint in Sheffield. They don’t know one another but recognise something of themselves in each other.
Watch new musical Cells – premiering online as venues remain closed whatsonstage.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from whatsonstage.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated
Clive Rowe stars in Cells
It has been made by the award-winning writer/director P Burton-Morgan and composer Ben Glasstone and stars Metta’s patron, the Olivier award-winning Clive Rowe alongside rising star Lem Knights.
A university science lab. A kebab shop at 2am. An online gaming forum. Two strangers’ lives become intertwined. Alan Bennett meets The Streets in this tender and uplifting new work, giving voice to the lives of two everyday blokes.
Metta are partnering with three major regional venues – Royal & Derngate Northampton, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough – with each partner venue hosting episodes on their websites.
New musical Cells starring Clive Rowe to be released next month whatsonstage.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from whatsonstage.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.