Coram Boy- Kings Cross Theatre

Coram Boy- Kings Cross Theatre

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Posted 2019-12-04 by Gypsy Rosefollow

Fri 22 Nov 2019 - Sat 07 Dec 2019

bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company has done it again, delivering a stellar production that kept the audience captivated from the get-go. Coram Boy is an action-packed spellbinding historical tragic thriller, adapted by Jamila Gavin's award-winning novel.



Set in England, on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, Otis Gardiner (Lloyd Allison-Young) known as the 'Coram Man', travels the country with his son, Meshak (Joshua McElroy).



Gardiner takes advantage of women who are desperate in finding homes for their illegitimate babies. For a fee, he promises he will take their children to suitable homes, including Captain Thomas Coram's Hospital for parentless children. However, the truth is, Gardiner has no concern for these infants. The minute the weeping mother's turn the back, Gardiner rids himself of the children in the cruellest way imaginable and his simple-minded son, Meshak, is forced to do the dirty work, and he pays a terrible price for doing so.



Meanwhile, young Alexander Ashbrook (Ryan Hodson), heir to the Ashbrook manor, is a gifted composer who wants to be a composer and musician. However, his father, Lord Ashbrook (Andrew Den), has other plans for his son's future, including being expected to marry Melissa Milcote (Annie Stafford), the daughter of Mrs Milcote (Suz Mawer).

Coram Man and the Ashbrook family's stories become intertwined…



Spanning three generations, Coram Boy is at once a glorious love story and a breathtaking thriller - a dazzling tale of mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, children lost and found, love, betrayal and murder.



It is set in a backdrop of extreme wealth and poverty, the rich and powerful, and the soaring sounds of Handel's Messiah.



Coram Boy is a story of unwanted children in the world. The production delivers in graphic details stories of infanticide, child abuse and slavery, and is genuinely confronting. There were moments where the narrative veered towards the sentimental with the tales of loss and suffering.



Directors John Harrison and Michael Dean did a marvellous job bringing this story to life. The narrative moved along at a swift pace, and the scene transitions artfully choreographed.



The cast of 15 did a fantastic job performing in an intimate space as well as managing to weave in and out of the theatre without incident. The cast includes Meshak/Mish (Joshua McElroy), Dr. Smith/ Judge Claymore / Handel (Gideon Payten-Griffiths), Alexandra Ashbrook (Ryan Hodson), Thomas Ledbury (Joshua Wiseman), Otis Gardiner/ Phillip Gaddarn (Llyod Allison-Young), Mrs. Lynch (Ariadne Sgouros), Miss Price / Mrs. Hendry (Emma O'Sullivan), Lady Ashbrook (Amanda Stephens-Lee), Isobel Ashbrook (Violette Ayad), Melissa Milcote (Annie Stafford), Alice Ashbrook / Molly Jenkins (Rebecca Abdel-Messih), Edward Ashbrook / Aaron Dangerfield (Petronella Van Tienen), Mrs. Milcote (Suz Mawer), Lord Ashbrook (Andrew Den), and Toby Gaddern (Tinashe Mangwana).

They were such a delight to watch; their performances were perfection with each cast executing their character/s with brilliance.



The production achieved an emotional punch with authenticity. Each frequent scene change, cinematic soundscape and lighting was mastered.

The ending does not disappoint - tying up loose ends of the plot with a miraculous twist.



The production was heartrending, as well as underscoring the horrifying truth that almost 300 years on, slavery continues.

From acting, lighting, to staging it was all exceptional level, making this well-crafted, brave, bold, and entertaining play one you do not want to miss out on.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Box Office.

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!date 22/11/2019 -- 07/12/2019
%wnsydney
110243 - 2023-06-12 14:55:23

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