Review: Brief Encounter at Theatre Royal, Newcastle

May 13 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

IT could have gone horribly wrong. You tinker with an old favourite at your peril, and David Lean’s 1945 film, based on a short play by Noel Coward and capturing a bygone era of steam trains, afternoon teas and stiff upper lips, is a much-loved classic.

Here, it’s down to Hannah Yelland and Milo Twomey to fly the flag for decency as housewife Laura and doctor Alec, who fall in love after meeting in a station buffet room but are determined to do the right thing.

Kneehigh Theatre, under director Emma Rice, treads just carefully enough with the gentle romance – Yelland’s beautifully-judged performance is particularly likely to please the purists – to deliver a blowsy, bizarre and, at times, brilliant affair – melding theatre and film; upbeat Coward songs with the Rachmaninov piano concerto; and reality with fantasy. The restrained middle class lovers fit like jigsaw pieces into a 40s-style setting beautifully realised by North East designer Neil Murray.

A decision to bring to the fore two peripheral couples – the buffet room manageress and guard (Annette McLaughlin and Joseph Alessi); and staff Beryl (Beverly Rudd) and Stanley (local actor Christopher Price) – adds good old working class banter.