Man In The Rain
Umbrella Understanding
Man In The Rain
by Tony Bell
Quiet Light at Stanley Arts, Norwood until 31st August, then on tour until 30th September
Review by Denis Valentine
One man shows, especially of an autobiographical nature, can often be challenging and brave pieces, and Man In The Rain written and starring Tony Bell is no exception.
It is clear from the start that Bell will take his audience on a journey through his life and explore and reflect on the relationships that have moulded him and display to the audience what makes a person the way they are … and what has led them to being in the same room as him now.
The main theme of the show is quite literally that of living and the moments going through life that shape a person. Bell begins at childhood and there are pieces and moments that most in the audience growing up in Britain will be able to directly relate to. A great depiction is the end of childhood innocence being met with the pitfalls of adolescence, where Bell’s singing of a childhood song is interrupted with increasing intensity with slurs and the confrontation of adolescent troubles.
As said, the show is a look into the human experience of going through life, but a lot of that is centred around Bell’s relationship with his own father. The show starts with what is meant to be an excerpt at his father’s funeral and that sets up not only Bell but his dad as the two central figures in the play. There are many moments where Bell is not only looking into his own experience of life and growth, but his father’s as well. We see his dad go from a man excited by having a young son, to being more beaten down in life to at times being an almost villainous antagonist by his treatment of not only Bell but also his wife, the child’s mother, as well. The closing moments serve as the reminder that life for many has its ups and downs and display his more reflective tone
The only slight thing that Bell might want to look at performance-wise, is the physicality of certain characters and moments. At times it was not always clear to the audience who was speaking: whether it be he, his mother, father or another figure, but this was only in fleeting moments and for the majority of the show it was a very well-handled multi-person, one person performance.
It is also a testimony to Bell’s handling of the craft and his skill and watchability as a performer that, even with minimal set and no lighting, the stage never felt empty or that these elements were particularly missing.
Man In The Rain is a terrific reflective piece on the human experience. Anyone observing, could not help but feel that, over the hour’s runtime, they have come to see and know what has not only helped make the show’s performer and has led him to be there, but also to understand his father as well.
Denis Valentine, September 2024
Photography courtesy of Quiet Arts
Mark Aspen 