REVIEW | A Tale Of Fellowship

Reviews

23 Oct

Written by Cathie

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

If you were to ask an average Joe what they knew of JRR Tolkien, they would most likely refer to the fantastic Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was incredibly refreshing to go to this concert which focuses on the early life of Tolkien and his path to writing his legendary collection of work. Based on Joseph Purdue’s book, music and lyrics and directed by Jacob Wolstencroft and performed by a hugely talented cast of 15, this production isn’t just a tribute to Tolkien but a concert that seeks to inspire and motivate us to follow our own artistic dreams.

This production was performed in the fabulous St Paul’s Actors church in the heart of Covent Garden and is a beautiful nod to Tolkien’s devotion to his Catholic faith. This production took place as a concert with a musical formula chronologically going through key moments in Tolkien’s life and their effect punctuated by 26 beautiful songs. Much of the story is centred around Tolkien’s reaction to his mother’s death, explained through ‘Ever You’ll Be’, a beautiful song performed by Sophia Foroughi and his meeting of his friends Rob Gilson, Geoffrey Bache Smith, and Christopher Wiseman. From initial rivals to creating a semi-secret artistic support society referred to as the T.C.B.S (Tea Club and Barrovian Society) they all seek to support each other’s dreams and passions. This support continues into the dark and dangerous backdrop of World War One, which is demonstrated through fantastic ensemble songs about trench life and punctuated by letters the T.C.B.S send each other.

This production’s strengths are its incredible songs, which rival the famous LOTR trilogy in their complexity and uplifting sincerity. I truly hope they release a soundtrack as they were hauntingly beautiful. The entire cast was bursting with talent and the performances of Aiden Cutler, Christopher Cameron, Daniel Hall, Samantha Thomas and Natasha Hoeberigs were spectacular. Sake Wijer as J.R.R. Tolkien was beautifully earnest and sang with a perfect mix of sincerity, kindness and hope. My only letdown was the pacing of the plot which feels uneven and very slow to start as it lays the groundwork for the story.

I think Tolkien would have loved the sense of brotherhood, camaraderie and open healthy portrayals of masculine bonding which cement this story. Much of this show’s themes are about encouraging others to follow their artistic dreams and pursuits. As it also explores how art can be a form of comfort and escape in even the darkest of times, this show also feels young and hopeful. This show is absolutely brilliant and utterly praiseworthy even in its earlier stages and I think with a bit more polishing and tightening of the script this would be an absolute powerhouse in the future. I could see this show becoming a classic performed in the Barbican or Royal Albert Hall. This is a fabulous beginning and I hope this show becomes as famous and beloved as its source material.