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Two Ladies: La Bella Bimba at Barons Court Theatre / Canal Cafe Theatre

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T hey sing. They dance. They clown around. They even wash clothes! Such is the story of La Bella Bimba, part of the Voila Theatre Festival, which highlights new and emerging artists. A tale of two Italian ladies who land in 1920s New York, trying to break into Broadway without speaking a word of English. It’s harmless, primarily even if a little nonsensical, and is currently playing as part of the Voila! Theatre Festival .  I caught the performance at the Barons Court Theatre , where the intimate setting created an evocative atmosphere reminiscent of dark New York alleyways. The space was almost claustrophobic with a distinct smell of rising damp, making you feel immersed in the story of two Ladies hanging around the theatre doors of Broadway. On the plus side, the theatre has some of the most comfortable seats you will find in any pub theatre in London. As the naive and hopeful singers, Co-creator Lucrezia Galeone as Carlotta and Sarah Silvestri as Cecilia are fine singers with co...

On matters of love and debt: The Bear / The Lady With The Dog @TheUniontheatre @ART_THEATRE_LDN


Summer means that attention for all things theatrical (and fringey) usually drifts north to Edinburgh. But over at the Union Theatre, a Chekhov double bill by new production company Art Theatre is there to remind us that London can still surprise us with exciting fringe theatre any time of the year. 

There are two short comedies by Anton Chekhov and directed by Dmitrij Turchaninov, an alumnus of Studio Chekhov: Moscow Art Theatre School – which first performed  Chekhov’s plays. And with a simple staging and engaging performances, the works come to life. 

First up is the Lady With The Dog, which is about a cynical married man who, while holidaying in Yalta, falls in love with another married woman who happens to go everywhere with a little dog. Based on a short story of Chekhov’s, it’s more storytelling than a play, but with its simple projections and props, you feel like you are on holiday at the turn of the last century. 


After the interval is The Bear, a story about a retired officer chasing up his debtors, but he isn’t having much luck getting anyone to pay up. So, out of desperation, he resorts to visiting a grieving widow for a missed payment from her deceased husband. She offers to settle the debt in a few days, but he keeps insisting on payment now and refuses to leave. It’s part battle of wills and part exercise in futility as each goes through the motions of what they think they should do, playing the roles of grieving widow and debt-chasing misogynist. It may not be everyone’s idea of a comedy, but there are plenty of sharp observations about keeping up appearances.

The double bill is also a showcase of the resourcefulness of Anna Viller and James Viller. The focus in both pieces is on them, and they create the time and place in both pieces with their descriptions, actions and well-timed delivery. At times they mingle among the audience, and it becomes an immersive experience for everyone. 

The double bill presented by Art Theatre runs at the Union Theatre in Southwark until 27 August.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Photos: production photos

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