Arts in a Virtual Cambridge
Arts organisations continue to seek ways of overcoming the insidiously vile virus at least in terms of creative output. Not content with saying ‘goodbye please donate’, these local artists are straining every sinew to keep in touch with their Cambridge audience. I’ve already praised the efforts of the Cambridge Summer Music Festival but here are some more screen-based delights (and a few national ones that have taken my fancy).
The ADC Theatre has launched an ‘online season’ which offers a diverse range of arty morsels. Their youtube channel is full of youthful energy and rather like the physical venue off Jesus Lane, it’s always a surprise pick n mix ranging from the frankly silly, verbose studenty rudeness and more weighty fare. I tuned into the Impronauts Clickfire, a Zoom-created sort of sketch show which is more of a stream of nonsense (to be fair, a description they use themselves). It’s daft but fun, and I can imagine younger house prisoners enjoying its frenzied madness. The five players certainly enjoy themselves and sort of rise to the challenge of improvising whilst miles apart.
If its comedy you’re after, the Cambridge Footlights is also providing a Smoker or two (sketch show) and the team is offering a stand-up showcase from Tuesday 5 May to the 16 June. There’s also an hour of original monologues and one-person sketches (surely a new Covid-inspired art form) called ‘'Monolaughs'.
The ADC online team isn’t only about comedy. On Friday 8 May at 7 pm they are streaming a play ‘Sorry For Your Loss’ by Joe Venable. Described as a ‘demonically dark domestic tragedy’ turning on the consequences of a young suicide, his grieving parents and an old friend who has an outrageous proposal to make.
Radio productions may make a comeback during this lock in. There are two local examples to share with you. First is a show called ‘The Man in the Air Balloon’, a new radio drama about life and art (so what’s left?). Written by Queen’s College Cambridge student Jonathan Powell the play follows the life of trainee journalist David Mason as he becomes convinced he is being followed by a strange old man and his hot air balloon. Conceived and produced in quarantine, the drama should be worth a listen.
https://www.adctheatre.com
The second sound-only play already up and running also deals with the power and corrupting temptations of art and the artist. ‘The Portrait’ is a specially adapted play performed by members of the Cambridge-based Corkscrew Theatre Company. Adapted by Sophie McMahon (who plays the narrator) after a typically spiky story by Gogol, has original music by talented local theatre composer Geoff Paige. The story, vividly brought to life by a cast performing form their own homes (but you would never know it as the sound quality is excellent), revolves around the ups and downs of a penniless artist who spends his last kopecks on a painting that seems to possess magical powers (not least the ability to make him a rich and famous artist without dipping a brush). The result is funny, spooky and richly melodramatic in turns. It’s currently online and free to hear.
https://corkscrewtheatre.co.uk/shows/the-portrait/
On the music front, our area’s own answer to Snape Maltings - Saffron Hall, is providing online treats including a short documentary about the making of ‘Quiet Connection’ a dance piece created over three days by young hoofers from the attached secondary school. They also recommend a healthy menu of online music making and another short documentary that appealed to me personally: Sadlers’ Wells digital dance workshops for the over 60s. Entitled ‘Company of Elders’, the video runs for 30 minutes and is presented by the resident artist of Matthew Bourne’s ‘New Adventures’. Lots of good stretches and breathing exercises – a kind of gentler more balletic Joe Wix.
Perhaps the most cheering thing on the Saffron Hall site is the announcement of their summer and autumn programme rich with music, opera and performance including Wagner, Vivaldi, the world premiere by the National Youth Orchestra of a work by Danny Elfman not to mention the legendary Black Dyke Band (OK I did mention them). I will keep an eye on this melodic menu and report back on what is likely to go ahead when our personal exodus can take us into the land of milk, honey and front row stalls.
Saffronhall.com
One last thing in the frame is a rather clever idea from Kettle’s Yard gallery. They are providing a a live fee webcam giving a view of the first floor of the Kettle’s Yard cottages – a view from the bridge to borrow Arthur Miller’s phrase. Changing one frame at a time, every eight seconds (from 5 30 am to 8 pm), the images remind us of what we have temporarily lost; sad but somehow heartening to know that even when no one is there, the magical cavern of delight is waiting for us once the coast is clear. Let it be soon.
https://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/kettles-yard-webcam/
