Northern Stage and Live Theatre have collaborated to produce this remarkable musical based on a potted history of the miners. Written by Alan Plater 44 years ago, it now contains new material by Lee Hall which brings it up to date. The combined forces of these two excellent writers results in fluent dialogue and an abundance of wisecracks that clearly appealed to the Guildford audience.
A very able cast play members of a mining family, their friends and their neighbours. They also very effectively portray many influential figures of the time, simply by donning a hat, changing a jacket or adopting a different accent. Adam Barlow, who plays the vicar most of the play, has a real talent for this: his rendition of Harold Wilson is incredibly realistic despite him being a very different shape and size to the former Labour prime minister. Also adept at taking on many roles is Jane Holman who mainly plays Grandma but switches very naturally to an array of characters using a range of expressions and vocal dexterity.
There is a real energy exuding from the whole cast and their musical ability is brilliant. They play an impressive range of instruments, and the songs written by Alex Glasgow are belted out with confidence and passion. But without these bursts of music I fear this play may become a little over-wordy, and I felt it went off track a little in Act 2 when the humour turns slightly slapstick with a ventriloquist’s dummy (played convincingly by the aforementioned Barlow) and an overkill of blasts from plastic kazoos. With all these comic interludes it was hard to remember where we were in the plot. And actually, I wanted to learn more about the history miners - there was so much fascinating stuff in the programme, but only half of it reached the stage.
The story revolves around a jolly mining family and the ongoing dilemma as to whether the young men should stay in the mining village or spread their wings and see the world. The brotherly rival theme is strong, the inevitable fight over a girl ensues, and the terrible conditions of the miners is driven home. But it never sinks into mawkishness and this is clearly a show with a very light heart - the audience loved it and particularly enjoyed the jibes with local references, including the one about loos flushing in Guildford.
Soutra Gilmour has designed an impressive set with a huge silhouette of a colliery and a revolving stage that changes from family sitting room to the front of the red-bricked terraced house. Hall’s updates and intervention are brave but they usually work - a nice touch at the end has the whole cast wearing headphones and talking all at once as the collapse of the coal industry gives way to the rise of the call centre. A sombre consideration at the end of a jolly night out.
Tinx Newton
Coalhouse Door is at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford until Sat June 2, before it heads north. Box Office 01483 440000
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