2016 Quarter 2 Review - 3/13

003 Historical Comedy – New 

I had a rollicking good time with Field Notes written and staring Alistair Macgowan as the Irish composer John Field.  I knew a little about Field previously but, like Johann Nepomuk Hummel, he’s not particularly well-known.  Seriously suffering from alcoholism and some kind of colo-rectal problems, John Field—toast of Moscow society for 20 years—decides in 1826 to go on a tour and debut his first composition in seven years in Manchester, on the way visiting London and seeing his mother.  He takes with him his illegitimate son Leontov and his little but ferocious dog, Muzio.  Field is crass and lecherous, easily taking offense, but a sympathetic character who brings a dummy keyboard with him on the trip in order to constantly practice on the long, dull coach journeys.  The piece was nicely structured and had many clever touches, including Field being held up by highwaymen who let him keep his keyboard because it is “invaluable,” and the following terrible joke:  Doctor:  “You have a severe infection in your rectum.”  Field:  “Yes, it certainly feels like there are problems in . . . the inside bits.”  Doctor:  “Rectum.”  Field:  “Yeah, that about sums it up.”  The meeting with Chopin was particularly effective as was the confrontation with Field’s ageing mentor/exploitive former boss, Muzio Clementi, in Evesham.  The only downside to the play was its slightly anticlimactic ending.  It starred Keiron Brown as Leontov, Charlotte Page and Scarlett Brookes as Field’s long-time mistress and an amorous Russian woman.  It also starred Brian Protheroe, Susan Jameson, Rafael Firenze, Sean Baker, Adie Allan, and Nick Underwood.  It was directed by Emma Harding.  I like Macgowan a lot, and I enjoyed hearing his humorous documentary about Field, also recently broadcasting.