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If
you work all the hours that God sends and thrive on a mixture of
adrenalin and caffeine, then be warned. You could be in the grip
of something that you aren't aware of.
For
depicted on the stage in The Holy Terror is the journey of a brilliant
man living on his adrenalin and driven by his stressful lifestyle
into madness - and then out again.
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| Simon
Callow and Matt Canavan in The Holy Terror |
Very
relevant to today's busy lifestyles, it warns that you too could
find yourself in this situation, now matter how careful you are.
As Mark Melon says, "It could happen to anyone."
But
despite its title and its more serious premise, The Holy Terror
is also very funny and it is probably this that makes you feel its
tragic elements more keenly, as Melon can actually destroy people
with a cheery quip.
The
play is set within a talk to a Women's Institute by publisher Mark
Melon (Simon Callow), with excerpts of the story he is telling them
acted out by Callow and a supporting cast.
The
part of Mark Melon is an epic and one which requires skillful handling
to avoid the play's descent into farce.
Luckily
Simon Callow is made for parts like these and quite lierally holds
it all together, hurling himself around the stage and driving the
action.
In
fact, it really does come across as a vehicle for his talents although
the rest of the cast give him unselfish support and come across
very well.
With
his excellent comic timing and way of engaging and drawing in the
audience, you can find him thoroughly entertaining, while never
really liking the character, before he snaps, quick as a flash into
tragedy.
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| Simon
Callow and Geraldine Alexander in The Holy Terror |
But
then, in a beat, he switches back into comedy, a far more difficult
transformation, that actually brought a round of applause from the
audience.
The
supporting cast all held their own in their scenes with Callow with
Geraldine Alexander wearily understanding as his wife, while Lydia
Fox made his mistress into a sympathetic character.
Matt
Canavan's relaxed portrayal of his son provided the perfect antithesis
to his father's demented mover-shaker character, and Tom Beard and
Robin Soans skilfully tackled having to play a number of different
characters.
But
the success of this play really depends on who is playing the lead
role of Mark Melon. In fact, this part is almost bigger than the
play! But in Simon Callow, this production should have no problems.
Because
whatever you think of the play, it is more than likely that you
will be thoroughly entertained by the performance of one of this
country's most accomplished actors.
Read
our interview with Simon Callow >>
Find
out more about The Holy Terror >>
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Listen
to our interview with Simon Callow
