07/02/2020
'You know I don't like puppets right?' Bo Wilde leans in to say as we take our seats in Malvern Theatres Forum.
'Oh don't you? Yes... of course I knew that...you mean more like the china dolls though right?... Or the hand puppets you see in horrors with the creepy jaw?'
For a short while, I was concerned... 'Dead Good' was my pick.
Have I just condemned Bo to an hour or so of unpleasant puppetry?
...
We'd began our date night so perfectly too... I'd rushed us out of the warmth of our nest in a panic. Adamant that we were going to miss the strict 7pm start.
Only when we arrived at the theatre it was eerily quiet.
"Where is everyone? Have we missed the show? "
I, Archie Wilde, hadn't checked the tickets.
7.45pm start. Oh.
"Bo... sooo... it turns out, we're like super early. But it's fine, we can go get a drink or something?" Happy Face on.
"You rushed me! You stopped me from finishing my crossword to get me here 45 minutes early! Yes, WINE!"
I decided to encourage adventure and try an alternative to the resident spoons The Foley Arms Hotel, which isn't too bad if you're after value grub and a bottomless coffee.
We're still relatively new to the area and haven't yet explored all the local facilities.
I'd heard a many great thing about Great Malvern Hotel, supposedly a hub in the centre of town for live music.
Simply put, we shall be returning. Thank you Simon for the friendly welcome and helpful information. Despite it's title, this is a pub first, hotel second. And it's a proper pub at that.
Historically decorated, warm, cosy & well priced.
...
I held Bo's hand to reassure her:
'These are masks not puppets, I think this will be really interesting & they've got great reviews for their previous shows.'
The house lights drop to blackout.
A soft melody plays out, it's comforting and certainly makes the reveal of the masked characters less intimidating. Still. This is surreal.
I was entranced.
For the first 5 minutes or so my mind was silent, focused, as this wonderful piece of emotional art plays out before me.
It wasn't until the crowd rippled with giggles that I took a moment to consider Bo's reaction to the show.
I glanced at her briefly, she too was gripped, sat upright, watching with intent like the on guard Meerkat.
Dead Good, alongside I would imagine all of Vamos Theatre's productions, is an eye opener to how we physically communicate as humans.
So much can be said with the subtle lift of a chin, the slow turn of one's head or the well timed slap on the back of a wrist.
I could understand these people far more accurately than so many who use words.
Over the course of the show their faces, despite still, became animated.
Whether it was my imagination or the genius of the sculpture, the actors, story & direction... Over the course of the show I could see different emotions in their one facial expression.
I had become so familiar with the characters. I could almost anticipate what they were going to do next.
Bob and Bernard are charmingly funny, mischievous and form the most beautiful friendship. Their story is one of love, companionship, support, struggle, adventure, celebration and grief.
Bo and I fluttered between grasping each others hands tightly in sorrow, leaning our heads together in compassion and bursting out in utter hysterics.
We finished the show on our feet, I only paused from applaud to wipe a tear from my eye.
A sublime piece of theatre.
Wordlessly telling a wondrous tale of the importance of living...terminally.
Thank you so much to the cast, writer/director and St Richard's Hospice patient for staying behind to answer our questions.
