Bellringers at Hampstead Theatre runs between 27 September to 2 November 2024. London Mums‘ Rating: 3/5.
Real-life bellringers Daniel, Me, Paula, Susan, Evie, Fiona and Sarah
Well I’m a real bellringer and I’m very aware it’s a bit niche. I only know of one other literary work which delves into our world, The Nine Taylors, a murder mystery. So my band and I were super chuffed to see bellringing bathed in limelight for the first time ever, and intrigued to know what the play was all about. Eight of us, Sarah & Evie, Daniel, Susan, Paula, Alda, Fiona and myself from St Mary’s Tower, Putney, booked our first outing together that did not involve ringing real bells.
The story is presented as a matey discussion between two young bellringers in their tower, waiting in trepidation for the eye of the storm to hit so they can ring the bells and, according to local superstition, stop the terrible storm dead in its tracks. We learn storms have been growing in ferocity, wreaking havoc on communities, so the pair are fired up with their Saviour-Complex, but dampened by a dread of being struck dead by the lightening like some of their fellow ringers.
Daniel observed the timing and location of the action are unclear, but an English parish church or monastery, judging by the monks’ cassocks. The language was modern English, but not yoofy. Alda thought it was set post-apocalypse, when Science is dead and Religion rules again.
The dialogue is witty, nostalgic, affectionate, sensitive, uplifting and Sarah thought it redolent of ‘Waiting for Godot’. Susan wondered if it wasn’t a monologue between the neurotic one and his ‘imaginary friend’, so enmeshed were they, and so unerringly reassuring, his chum.
Evie loved the power of their friendship and love in the face of death and the importance of self-sacrifice to save the community. The protagonists could well have been sitting in a trench in the Somme, waiting for the signal to go over the Top. I’m not clear why a bell tower was chosen as the backdrop.
The acting was superb, the one over-anxious and self-doubting, the other steady and rock-like. Subtlety and understatement contrasted with exuberant moments and endearing tenderness. Fiona found the neurotic one a little over-acted, but I know people just like that!
The staging
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs is a double-sided mini-stage and was set up simply with a few notional stone arches, benches and ropes. The approaching storm effects were very credible. Two ropes were down, the others up, which is bad practice. But ok, saves unhooking them.
Bellringing
We were disappointed at the minimal authentic detail regarding ringing which is a noble British tradition spanning 400 years and deserving of some acknowledgement. I did appreciate the moment where they hear faint bells from the neighbouring village and know exactly who is ringing. We arrive at our own tower late sometimes when practice is on and listen in, envisaging who is on which bell. Also, slightly irksome, was seeing the ropes not knotted properly, or rung properly. The benches placed bang under the ropes were also inaccurate.
Finally, we have to admit our attention ebbed at times; Daniel thought it would have benefitted from an interval, and I despaired when chat about luminescent green mushrooms circled round again. The ending was frustrating, as it consisted of a black-out, mid-crisis, leaving us to make our own minds up, but Paula approved of the cliffhanger effect.
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