| |
Press for Dillon in Berkoff's Hell
| In turns funny, harrowing real and surreal, this daring performance is nothing short of brilliant.
|
|
EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
|
| Steven Berkoff's close collaborator and ardent disciple, George Dillon, demonstrates his sensitive and intelligent understanding of his mentor's work in this provocative performance, and in the process, powerfully reminds us of the technical control, range and intensity that mark him out as one of the most distinctive and challenging solo performers around. Dillon combines the precision and timing of the practised story-teller with the physical expressiveness of the accomplished actor, to expose a rich mixture of humour, anger, futility and human sadness. He immerses himself in his material and suffers. Dillon brings measured delivery, carefully stylised visual imagery and above all the degree of physical and emotional vulnerability needed to translate powerful prose into disturbing, dangerous theatre.
|
|
THE GUARDIAN
|
| It can't be denied that he's a superb performer, controlling his physical expression expertly to match the mood of each monologue. Dillon bobs, weaves and explodes about the stage, in a dazzling performance.
|
|
THE INDEPENDENT
|
| One performance that had it all. One minute Dillon shrivels up into a snarling, flailing embodiment of failure, the next minute he preens himself with the memory of a review in a local paper. This is rapid, biting, fifth-gear performance.
|
|
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
|
| There's a definite buzz in the sell-out crowd for the opening of a new Berkoff by one of the most-praised solo performers of recent Fringes. If you thought Berkoff was all arch bombast, then try this mesmeric wade through the quagmires of despair. From its monotone opening to its killer final line, it's both unique and fascinating. Not cheery but definitely chunky.
|
|
THE LIST
|
| George Dillon, one-man wunderkind and spiritual son of Steven Berkoff, is showing up the opposition in his adaptations from Berkoff's short stories, visions of T S Eliot's Wasteland for our times. These little playlets are what our age can muster in the way of tragedy. George Dillon presents these works with verve and fervour. He is as mobile as protoplasm, flowing into the shapes and characters of bed-sit land in an extraordinary display of energy and control. He sits, practically motionless, tinged with red light, like a bloodied version of Rodin's The Thinker, and takes us on a journey into a personal inferno, just as bleak and affecting as anything Dante has to offer.
|
|
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY
|
| One cannot be unaffected by Dillon's virtuoso performance in this world premiere of Berkoff's monologues. It is a tour de force in which the actor and his material become one and the fusion of life and theatre is complete.
|
|
THE SCOTSMAN
|
| Thorough, talented, amusing, provocative, soul-searching, this triple bill must be seen. Dillon is, we are told, an actor with "no formal training"; a genius.
|
|
THE STAGE
|
| These three stories by Steven Berkoff are narrated by someone it is tempting to see as his shadow self. Dillon brings a certain verve and inventiveness to Harry's histrionic fantasies, but his forte is a vulnerability we have not seen or suspected in his author. Self-pitying, maudlin stuff? It could and perhaps should have been. But in his gentle, doleful way Dillon manages to summon up something as improbable as, let's say, a garrulous Pinter or a hale and hearty Simon Gray: the Beckett in Berkoff.
|
|
THE TIMES
|
| These three short tales make for a miserable yet marvellous evening. Dillon's performance in all three pieces is extraordinary. He is raucous, humourous, pitiful and exceptionally tender. Dillon opens up a chasm in the human experience, then stands at its bottom and screams. Seeming at times like a comic impersonator, he moves through a series of grotesque voices before suddenly hitting you with the force of his acting. All the anguish of the most harrowing performance is distilled into the lives of these little people. The stage is empty, the subject matter almost banal, so there is nothing but the force of Dillon's performance to carry you through. He does not disappoint. Here is a performance though which cannot be too highly recommended.
|
| WHAT'S ON |
Forthcoming Vital Theatre Dates:
| 2010 | BRIGHTON |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 29th & Fri 30th Jul 2010, (19:30) |
BRIGHTON,
Nightingale Theatre |
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 5th - Mon 30th Aug 2010, (19:10 - 20:40) |
EDINBURGH,
Hill Street Theatre |
On Tour in Autumn 2010(Some dates are still to be confirmed) |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 9th Sep 2010 |
LYME REGIS,
Marine Theatre |
| Workshop |
Fri 10th Sep 2010 |
BRISTOL |
| Gospel of Matthew by Candlelight |
Sat 11th Sep 2010 |
RUGELEY,
Ridware Theatre |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Fri 17th Sep 2010 |
HAVANT,
The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre |
| Graft |
Thu 23rd Sep 2011 |
HOLT,
Gresham's Auden Theatre |
| Gospel of Matthew by Candlelight |
Fri 24th Sep 2010 |
COLCHESTER,
St Martin's |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 30th Sep 2010 |
LEICESTER,
The Y Theatre |
| Graft |
Mon 4th Oct 2010 |
LEEDS,
Stage @ Leeds |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Wed 6th Oct 2010 |
LUTON,
Library Theatre |
| Graft |
Fri 8th Oct 2010 |
WELWYN G. C.
Campus West Theatre |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 21st Oct 2010
& Fri 22nd Oct 2010 |
HULL,
Hull Truck Theatre |
| Gospel of Matthew by Candlelight |
Thu 28th Oct 2010
& Fri 29th Oct 2010 |
GUILDFORD,
Yvonne Arnaud Studio |
2011(Some dates are still to be confirmed) |
| Graft |
Sat 15th Jan 2011 |
AYLESBURY,
Arts Centre |
| Graft |
Mon 17th Jan 2011 |
TONBRIDGE,
E M Forster Theatre |
| Graft |
Tue 18th Jan 2011 |
CRAWLEY,
The Hawth |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Wed 19th Jan 2011 |
UPPINGHAM,
Uppingham Theatre |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Fri 21st Jan 2011 |
BASINGSTOKE,
Central Studio |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Sat 22nd Jan 2011 |
NEW MILTON,
Forest Arts Centre |
| Gospel of Matthew by Candlelight (t.b.c.) |
Fri 4th Feb 2011 |
HALESWORTH,
The Cut |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 3rd Mar 2011
& Fri 4th Mar 2011 |
POOLE
Lighthouse |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Sat 5th Mar 2011 |
NORWICH,
Maddermarket Tehatre |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Tue 22nd Mar 2011 |
DARLINGTON,
Arts Centre |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Wed 23rd Mar 2011 |
SOUTH SHIELDS
Customs House |
| t.b.c. |
Tue 24th Mar 2011 |
KENDAL,
Brewery Arts Centre |
| t.b.c. |
Tue 25th Mar 2011 |
WHITEHAVEN,
Rosehill Theatre |
| Graft |
Wed 30th Mar 2011 |
TAUNTON,
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre |
| Man Who Was Hamlet |
Thu 31st Mar 2011 |
BRIDGWATER,
Arts Centre |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Thu 7th Apr 2011 |
BRACKNELL,
South Hill Park |
| Gospel of Matthew (t.b.c.) |
Thu 14th Apr 2011 |
HALIFAX,
Square Chapel |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Fri 15th Apr 2011 |
LEEDS,
Carriageworks Theatre |
| Gospel of Matthew (t.b.c.) |
Wed 20th Apr 2011 |
CHELMSFORD,
Civic Theatre |
| Gospel of Matthew |
Thu 21st Apr 2011 |
SUDBURY,
Quay Theatre |
|
| |
