Broken dreams
In a primary schoolroom with a teacher’s desk and chair, two little infant chairs face a white board with alphabet and number friezes. Joyful playground sound effects fill the auditorium. We are invited in to Tim Connery’s Masterclass, writes Linda Emmanuel.
The tutor enters and takes his place on stage facing the audience. He begins his award acceptance speech. It is only after he fluffs his lines, fumbles and scrambles to find his notes, do we realise that he was just practising, as many actors do in the privacy of their own homes. Our tutor for this acting class is Roger Sutherland (Alex Dee) an aging actor of ‘repute and renown’, as he describes himself. In reality, he’s a washed-up old drunk who always carries a litre of gin in his case – “actors’ fuel” – so is always ready to take a sip when creativity calls.
Energetic, young Gary Brock (Kurt Lucas) rushes in. Roger thinks he is the plumber booked to “fix the broken, erm, thingamy, erm, radiator?”. Gary, though, is actually Roger’s first and only student of his acting class, who offers to pay the £85 cost with a debit card. Unfortunately, Roger only deals in cash as he is “hiding from the tax man”. Gary leaves to find an ATM.
Roger shares anecdotes of treading the boards at the National to being in an advert for orthopaedic mattresses. Gary, who was a child actor in a famous soap in Australia, has moved to the UK seeking the fame and fortune that he didn’t get at home. He yearns to move on from performing in two-hander, profit share productions in pub theatres where the cast sometimes outnumber the audience. Nostalgic memories, perhaps, for any actors in the packed auditorium at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre who know fringe theatre well.
Gary has a strong belief in the use of the “Sokolovsy Method” where living the role is of the utmost importance to the actor. This view clashes with Roger’s belief that merely pretending to be characters is enough. The teacher hands his pupil a notepad and pen while pontificating with gems such as “learn your lines!” and imploring, “you should write that down”.
This is a story of two men whose broken dreams of riches and fame have left them desperate and floundering for meaning. Even though their approaches to the art are in opposition, they build a mutual and compassionate understanding, finding that they do have much to teach each other.
This production is well written, giving an insight into the ups and downs, the fickle and the fantastic of show business, which most seasoned actors will be familiar with. Even non-actors will have plenty to keep their attention piqued in this perfectly acted piece.
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre until January 24th.
Booking and full details: http://www.brockleyjack.co.uk/
