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By
Rosie Hetherington
I can
heartily recommend a great time in Knaresborough, with these passionate
knights who swear-a-lot. It's a cross between "Reservoir Dogs"
and "A Knight's Tale" without the rocking soundtrack.
In fact the soundtrack is conspicuous by its absence. According
to The Cherwell there should have been a pounding drumbeat. The
drummer boy must have cut himself, along with the sound engineer.
Director Phil Ormrod needs to be more careful where he leaves those
swords. You could have someone's eye out! Glad I wasn't sitting
in the front row as they practised their swings.
This
premiere student production brings a chill to the blood with the
feel of a cold draughty Yorkshire castle. As Thomas Becket's murderers
hide out from public outrage and papal animosity, their relationships
and loyalties to the King are tested to the limit.
"Ever
fall in love with someone you shouldn't fall in love with?"
These knights did and their barely suppressed sexual desires and
violent mood swings threaten to destroy them all. The troubled yet
still handsome Morville (Ted Hodgkinson) struggles with his guilty
conscience and the knightly ideals of honour, chastity, and chivalry
to which he holds dear.
Like
Monty Python and the Medieval Reservoir Dogs this show is full of
traditional British toilet humour and tense bloody violence. Their
powerful leader Fitz (Phil Ormrod) and the manipulative Traci (Harry
Lee) clash over love and loyalty to the crown. Catherine (Vix Ross)
provides the damsel in distress or in control. I must disagree with
the impetuous Brito (Charlie Morrison) it really is very funny.
With
a spiral of unrequited love you might think you'd wandered into
a "Dream". The body count reminds you it's just a nightmare.
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