Party in the park’s a real crowd pleaser

HAVE you guessed who it is yet? 'Robbie-O" - Adam Barlow, leads audiences around Alexandra Park.

Star Cross’d - Coliseum company in Alexandra Park
THERE’s an unexpectedly pleasurable element to the Coliseum’s apparent attempt to make believe Alexandra Park is Ashdown Forest (or anywhere that summer evenings are mostly sunny).

As David Cameron says occasionally, we’re all in it together — though in this case he might mean the Dunkirk-style spirit that pervades performances of Ian Kershaw’s Star Cross’d — “Romeo and Juliet in Oldham” by another name.

There’s an almost wartime camaraderie: you want director Kevin Shaw’s party in the park to work because it deserves to: after all this is Oldham, in the wettest summer for years; who in their right mind would consider staging an outdoor show, particularly such a complex one?

So following the show round the park’s landmarks is enjoyable partly because of the spirit of the crowd. Young or old, seated or standing, waterproofed or waterlogged, we appreciate the effort and madness involved. Even in dull weather it’s enjoyable; with nice weather it could be almost magical — almost.

The play helps, of course: moved from mediaeval Italy to modern Oldham, with the warring families as Pakistani and English business rivals, Romeo and Juliet offers obvious cultural dissonance, and the evening starts briskly in this light.

Extended scenes see the two factions before and at the Capulet ball as “Tyb” (Guy Rhys) warns Robbie-O (Adam Barlow) and Ben (Matt Connor) away from Judama (Anjli Mohindra), and the police (WPC Escalus — Mina Anwar) keep order, setting everything in context — though Romeo has rarely made use of a ukelele or sung pop when wooing before.

As the evening moves on, culturally-divided Oldham takes second place to Shakespeare’s story, suitably and heavily cut to fit the delightful settings of Lion’s Den, bowling pavilion, conservatory and lake.

Friar Lawrence becomes “Loz” (John Elkington) an ageing hippie; Paris — Capulet’s (Ian Aspinall) preferred son-in-law — becomes young business man Parvez (Sushil Chudasama), and so on, and the evening becomes more about lovers parted by tragedy.

Performances don’t count for much: it’s more about speaking up and hitting the mark than thrilling acting, but the two leads make a charming couple. Those who think of the story as romance not tragedy will be pleased by the ending — though the almost pantomime routine perhaps sets the wrong tone.

But you won’t go for the Shakespeare, just the experience; and with its terrific settings, colourful dancing girls, lake deathbed, lantern procession, brass band and other little tricks, you won’t see a more audience-involving show this year.

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