Theater: Mack and Mabel

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True life stories, brought alive on stage are often tragedies. Tragedies give the show an evocative strength and also make for some compelling viewing. This is of course only if the underlying them of the play is good and its cast of characters do justice to this theme. The world of theatre opened its doors to a new musical tragedy 'Mack and Mabel' to a highly appreciative audience. Theatre enthusiasts who check out a new play, come with no expectations whatsoever, but others who come with some expectations of watching a good play won't be disappointed in the least. So all you theatre lovers give this play a look into. A play guaranteed to satisfy all your theatrical expectations. Book your tickets as soon as possible, as this play is in danger of being a critically acclaimed box office hit. Those who miss the bus will really miss something brilliant

The play charts the histories of two silent-movie legends, this is the basic them of the story. It is about a Canadian born man, Mack Sennett, who is the centre piece of the production. A man obsessed with silent film-making, he worked with all the great of the era including Charlie Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin has once been credited to have stated that, Sennett was indeed a great audience and stood up for anything he thought was funny. Sennett genuinely giggled until his whole body began to shake. It was his film making that led him to meet his one and only Mabel.

Mack Sennett was 15 years older than Mabel Normand. It was he who turned her into an important star at the age of 16. Much like 'Mary and her little lamb' she followed Mack wherever he went. But her growing popularity estranged her from Sennett, and she went on to star in more feature films. Her whirlwind life soon caught up with her and she soon went on a downward spiral, being accused of having been involved in a double-scanda; the shooting of a Hollywood millionaire, and the mysterious murder of her lover William Desmond Taylor. She was also diagnosed with a drug problem. All this eventually shattered her reputation and she died in 1930 of tuberculosis.

The character of Mack Sennett constantly talks to the audience, thereby pulling them in , as he 'tells' the story of 'Mack and Mabel'. David Soul, as Mack Sennett turns in a very impressive performance, brilliant portraying the emotion and determination that Mack Sennett possessed. He gets into the skin of the character and is a treat to watch. Janie Dee also puts in a highly commendable performance. The play is also decorated with clips of Mack Sennett actual films, which are shown throughout the play. Projected onto a white-sheet, they effectively enhance the overall theme of the play. Moreover, the cast not only acts and sings on stage, but they are also the band. Most of the instruments played on stage are rarely put down. Interestingly and more so, intelligently they are used as props in the performance. These and many more distinctive theatrical tools, make for very interesting viewing.

A case can be made that this play targets older generations, as some of the jokes might just be lost on a younger audience, but the sheer vibrant creativity of the production is reason enough to go watch the play. Thus, it is a play that is for the young and old alike. Get your tickets for the play and take a breathtaking journey into the doing of 'Mack and Mabel'