Dal Segno - A Complex, Plausible Jigsaw Puzzle of a Drama

Susan Stanley-Carroll intrigued by new play at the Tabard

Max Kinder is riveting as Alex

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June 27, 2023

An intriguing production set in the seventies, in a band room of a London club, on a Friday night - the show is sold-out.

The plot and dialogue deliver a compelling story of the interplay between seven diverse freelance musicians. Each character has his own life-story; and each actor plays his character deftly and with implicit clarity. At the beginning the audience has to listen hard but the actors are good and pull us into their individual characters lives with dexterity during the first act.

A complex jigsaw puzzle of characters and plot - totally plausible and fascinating. Each actor firmly stands within his own territory. As the individual musicians intertwine with fellow musicians allowing the unpredictable plot to deftly unravel throughout the performance.

Praise to the author Joseph Morley for his absorbing, well researched script and the seamless, superb direction by Julia Faulkner. The cast have done them proud and each actor deserves a personal tribute:

Terence Frisch as ‘Ron’ - the natural leader of the group a calming, stable influence and played with a quiet dignity.

Max Kinder as Alex - tall, charismatic, witty guy who tends to spout a lot of new age jargon. Max's stage presence is riveting.

Vincent Shiels as ‘Brien” - Vincent’s strong entry at the start marks him out as the quiet, positive, muscle man of the group. Like several of the others he has to be watched.

Frank Simms as ‘Derek’ - a very pleasant, apparently straightforward chap but, oh my, oh my, does his body language give away his true thoughts and feelings. What will Derek’s outcome be in the future?

Adam Sopp as ‘Adrian’ - an intense deeply profound and disturbing performance again he does not need a script to express the depth of his festering emotions. Will Alex and Cheryl be able to support Adrian?

Kevin Wathen ‘Mike’ - portrays a very ‘naughty boy’ with a fiery temperament who gets his ‘come up-pence’. Kevin delivers a strong role with intensity.

Theo Watt as ‘Chris’ - my goodness, not on the stage as much as the other characters, but a thrilling performance as he delivers his surprising role and controls the stage when needs be.

Clair Gleave - Clair dances on and off in a range of rolls including Cheryl and 3 others. Her choreography is mesmerising and, her twinkle, eases the underlying tensions building up on the stage.

Costumes designed by Alice Mc Nicholas were spot on as was the B&J set. Sarah Carleton’s casting could not have been better.

An excellent production that must be seen by a much bigger audience. Now, the Chiswick audiences should roll up for every performance to do this fine production the justice it totally deserves.

Susan Stanley-Carroll

‘Dal Segno’ by Joseph Morley, now playing, at the Theatre at the Tabard, until Saturday, 8 July.

You can book all productions online on the Tabard Theatre web site or call the box office on 020 8995 6035 (leave a message if you can’t get through and your call will be returned).

Theatre at the Tabard is at 2 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LW).

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