Review: Brief Encounter at Theatre Royal, Newcastle

May 13 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

Milking the laughs on a set which is a jumble of buffet room, living room, and station, with a scooter, boat, even puppets, they’re like schoolchildren making mischief while the teacher is trying to concentrate. Sometimes the cartoon-like fun works; sometimes it doesn’t, like when a canoodling Beryl and Stanley overshadow a touching scene between the despairing lovers.

I’ve seen a stage adaptation of this before which had as much passion as a dead fish. While here we see nothing more risqué than a kiss, there’s plenty passion in the stirring music and big screen images of crashing waves. And the film is an inspired touch: with characters ‘walking’ into film and an on-screen Alec aboard a steam train waving goodbye to on-stage Laura.

I wasn’t sure at first but it’s so beautifully performed – cast swap roles and play a variety of instruments – it’s like watching poetry in motion.