I had the misfortune of seeing a truly awful play at Hyde Festival Theatre on Tuesday 19th July.
My first surprise of the evening was that the theatre was virtually empty, with only 15 seats or so taken. However, this play is funded by the Arts Council of England and the Big Lottery Fund, so I don't suppose the producers care whether anyone turns up or not. They still get their loot.
The play, The Myth of Escape, starred James Jowett (no I haven't heard of him either) as Billy, and Andrew Roberts-Palmer (ditto) as Alex. Billy and Alex are prisoners locked up in adjacent cells, who discuss everything from sex and religion to philosophy and Che Guevara. The dialogue is peppered with swearing, crude sexual references, cheesy one-liners and pseudo-intellectual philosophizing that made me cringe with embarrassment. Amazingly, the writer, Rob Johnson, got up on the stage before the play started, introduced himself and proudly announced to the world (well 15 people) that the play was his "brainchild". Shameless is a word that comes to mind.
This play is also viciously anti-Christian, with filthy jokes and jibes designed to belittle Christianity. The play sunk to its lowest level with this joke: What is black and white, and wet all over? Answer: A nun after you've pis*ed on her. Nobody laughed. I look forward to Rob Johnson's future plays where Islam and Judaism are the butt of all the malicious jibes, snears and taunts, but I won't hold my breath.
I think this abomination of a play should be re-named, Two Hours From Hell. At least this would give prospective theatre-goers an idea of what they are in for.
Review by Nigel Byrne
19 comments:
You should post new charter's concerns about the governments welfare reform bill currently going through parliament.
Every new charter tentant got a copy of a letter setting out new charter's concerns.
Interesting stuff.
You'd think that new charter housing had some political motivation behind this one. Surly not?
New charter's not run by Tameside Labour are they?
Just asking I'm from out of Town.
This outrage has inspired me to postpone my political retirement. I am off now to the timber merchant to buy wood to make a full size crucifix. I will then weave a crown of thorns from my rosebushes then I shall go to Hyde with my crucifix and crown of thorns to protest at this attack on the Christian faith.
Dangerous to mock The Son of Man.
Brilliant, well said Nigel. I was there too. What a load of garbage.
Here's one of those pathetic one-liners you mention.
"The Myth of Escape is, it's only a prison if you want to escape."
Profound.
Dear would be Roy West, please take note and care.
Mocking the Son of Man will be noted by his mighty law.
The mighty hand of God cuts all men down.
Remember that won't you?
There is only one universal truth.
Read The New Testament of faith.
Te British film industry has had buckets of money poured in it by the Lottery etc in the last fifteen years, the result a succession of appalling films, plays and other 'artisic' works that could never have received a penny of commercial money for two reasons.1They were totally uncommercial, 2) They were utter rubbish made by people with virtually no talent but the 'right' i.e politically correct approach. Every now and then there's a succeess, Full Monty etc but the vast majority disappear without trace.
P.S. I told you it would be s***e.
Jerry Springer The Opera, Jesus in a nappy. I'm going to write one where Mohammed is a rent boy. I wonder if the BBC will screen it.
I see that the begging bowls are out again ? Whats happened to all the forign aid we pay each year already ? there takin the mick
Like vultures at a corpse, would this play have been written at the height of the inquisition?
Maybe the playwright could have a go at social marxism or the atrocities in Palestine or the origins of the bankers who have wrecked our economy.
Typical leftists shite, think its 'edgy' to attack weak targets. Christianity is a dying system of oppression attacked by the new one, hopefully the natural religion will step in before the terrifying prophecy of the Protocols will be completed.
Fantastic post SS. The terrifying prophecy of the Protocols can be seen all around us already.
Serpent Slayer
What is the 'natural religion'?
Paganism?
I'm very much interested in the first comment from anonymous. A director of New Charter took early retirement to come back as a consultant. Jobs for the boys and a waste of money. Does a Housing Association really need a Housing Communications Consultant? And yet they complain about cuts?
Yes Paganism, though its called by numerous names. The reason for this is that before the advent of Christianity there was no need for names, religion was innate, a part of everyday life.
As cities became over populated people were more and more distanced from nature and the pagan cults became the preserve of the wealthy and that disease began to infect the dissillusioned poor.
People who lived close to nature (i.e those whoe were still sane) were seen as barbarians. They became known as Paganus (basically rural folk) They were treated how the Nationalists for today are treated. There were attempts to kill and convert them throughout the middle ages.
Luckily the old ways survived inside the church, the saints, the holidays, all are masked versions of ancient pagan gods and rituals. The transition wouldn't be as drastic as you would think, the main difference would be the promotion of community spirit and a duty towards you own kin.
Excellent post by Tameside Labour. TL, do you have a copy of the New Charter letter sent out to all tennants regarding the government cuts?
Well done Tameside Labour.
Can you find out how much loot Councillor Ged Cooney makes.
With his grubby little hands, in the new charter housing, money making scam for Labour Cllrs?
We hear, that, Councillor Ged Cooney is making alot of money out of the social housing organisations.
The Myth of Escape would have gone down well in Weimar Germany in the 1920s, as that period of German history was also characterized by degenerate art.
"Luckily the old ways survived inside the church, the saints, the holidays, all are masked versions of ancient pagan gods and rituals. The transition wouldn't be as drastic as you would think, the main difference would be the promotion of community spirit and a duty towards you own kin."
Quite so - the river has been polluted, but it still runs.
R
The river's been polluted and the blood's been diluted, but we'll NEVER GIVE IN.
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