Sloping shoulders, shambling walk, hair loosely swept across from a parting and regulation flask. Neil Duckmanton certainly has the look.
Anorak of Fire is an Alan Bennett-style monologue delivered by Gus, a trainspotter. If you were hoping that this play may break down the stereotypes about trainspotters then you will be sadly disappointed. This is the story of an obsessed child who didn't grow out of it. Neil Duckmanton certainly has the look with sloping shoulders, shambling walk, hair loosely swept across from a parting, regulation flask and the battered, multi-pocketed anorak of the title.
Gus has many friends - other trainspotters, his mother and above all his anorak. He tells us tales of unusual rolling stock, the Christmas Eve night spot and the zen master of spotting.
The tragedy of his life is revealed in these stories - such as terminating his first (and only) sexual experience when the girl's sighs made him think a locomotive was approaching.
As Gus obsessed about his anorak and notepad, your humble reviewer, sitting in the front row with notebook and stubby pencil, began to feel quite self-conscious. At least I left my flask at home.Could you do your boss's job? Post Mortem has the unusual setting of a financial company where PA Helen Ansty is running the office on her boss's day off. The company begins to fall apart as deals go wrong and rumours of insider trading arise. The boss doesn't answer the phone because, unknown to her, he is dead. From her desk, she concocts a daring plan to save the company while her personal life crumbles.
Claire Snowden is very convincing in the part and handled the scene where she learns of her mother's death particularly well while Daniel Bryant supplies various additional voices in an array of accents.
Anorak of Fire and Post Mortem are on at the Lace Market Theatre from 18-21 February 2004.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
