Fresh from The Edinburgh Festival – BERYL COOK: A PRIVATE VIEW Finborough Theatre Earls Court. http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk– “Probably the most influential fringe theatre in the world” (Time Out). 1 Oct to 26 Oct. Please see times and prices on the website.
WHEN ART AND ACTING MEET AND SHAKE HANDS Written performed and painted by KARA WILSON Wife of renowned actor Tom Conti and writer and performer in several plays, Kara Wilson does a show involving painting a Beryl Cook piece of artwork which can be bought at a later date by admirers. The title of the artwork done live on stage is the appropriately named “I’ve a Dickie” – one of Cook’s many funny pieces described broadly as “naive art”. Many of Cook’s paintings are to be found in card shops amongst other venues and they are all colourful, mood enhancing and humorous. Poetess – Pam Ayres and her husband attended on Thursday 3 October. Kara brings with her an easel brimful of paint and as she discusses her life (that of Beryl Cook) she paints and finishes with putting a thong in full on the male character taken from one of Cook’s famous artworks with a few ladies taking a peek at the “contents”. The eyeshadow for the viewing ladies came briefly before the thong was “coloured in”. This drama has clearly been extremely carefully thought out before the production.
The average time it took Plymouth based Cook to do a painting was 3 weeks. This is one of five plays involving the writing and acting of Kara Wilson. The play lasts 75 minutes without a break. However you can purchase refreshments from the downstairs bar which has been wonderfully refurbished with a tasteful and quietly exotic theme, sporting colours which give a relaxing feel to the general ambience.
Actress Kara has starred opposite her husband, Tom Conti in “Once in a Lifetime”. There is a post show discussion and during the play beforehand you will discover much about Beryl Cook and her family.
On Cook’s work which is now universally recognised it is said “she loved the naughty things”. A tasteful set on stage includes items relating to dressing up and being glamorous. This is an essentially mood enhancing production and all the more fun because Cook created so much entertainment for us all to enjoy in her art.
ENJOY
Penny Nair Price