London Tide is an adaptation of Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend. The story follows the thrilling and troublesome lives of several imperfect Londoners who are struggling to make ends meet. Focusing on Bella Maclean, who was to be wed to a man unknown to her, is forced into grieving when he drowns. The man was rich yet none of the money is given to Bella because they were not married yet. The money instead is given to Noddy, a servant. Noddy feels sadness for Bella and decides to whisk her off, using his new money to entertain her. Bella struggles with this new money while her family is left to suffer at home, living quite poorly. We also see the life of Lizzie Hexam, a woman who puts the men in her life before herself. She is tarnished in the eyes of the public because of rumors that her father was a murderer. She so desperately wants her brother, Charlie, to succeed in life that she never once considers what she might want or need. She was hard to connect with as a woman at times because of her need to keep the men around her happy, but this is my only complaint.
The author, Ben Power, is a Cambridge University graduate. The lyricist of the music from the show is PG Harvey who attended Yeovil College. These two collaborated in a way that is truly so magical, creating an incredible retelling of a classic story. Ian Rickson, the director whose vision was brought to life through the beautiful lighting design by Jack Knowles. An interesting factor regarding lighting is how the physical lights and batons were flown in patterns, almost as if they were mimicking waves of the sea. Bunny Christie, who is the set and costumer designer, brought the set to life through interesting simplicity with a fairly bare set and costumes. However, the costume switch offs between characters and changes in colors (Lizzie being in white in Eugene’s daydream yet she was in mourning, so she was in black in real life) made the storytelling richer and more complex.
When the show first started, the audience felt uncomfortable; I could feel it. The batons with lights were lowered to the ground, there were already people on stage, and I knew this was not going to be a stereotypical theatre experience. As the actors climbed up from the pit and onto stage, my mouth was hanging open. What an entrance! The inclusion of song never felt too musically to me, either. It always benefited the story and it often felt like moments of connection and truth to the specific character that was singing. There was never a moment that the actors were not connected to their scene partner(s) or themselves. I truly felt like I was transported into this story and the three hour and twenty minute show felt like it had happened in minutes. Some performance standouts for me were Lizzie (Ami Tredrea), Bella (Bella Maclean), and John (Tom Motherdale). Ami and Tom did such a wonderfully delicate job of creating a love story for Bella and John in the three hours that had my heart aching for them by the end.
This has truly been one of my favorite experiences thus far! This is the reason we came to London. We came here to see good theatre. And this is why we do this. We want to make the audience feel like we all felt in that room and create that beautiful magic that only theatre can create. I am completely over the moon. Until next time.
Cheers!
Theatre in London U of A 