He calls himself Legion. After all, he has been a lot of things - Preacher, salesman, horn player, spouter of what he believes people want to hear, or whatever is necessary to make a fast buck. He doesn't believe in anything, but realises that even those who say they don't believe in something want to, or actually do; something he can exploit. With a touch of gothic flair, darkness and shadows, Roger Gregg's new work, incorporating music, song and sound, has a primal feel to it, but with a few refinements, it could be sweeter still. Legion is on stage, as are his band of 'demons' who might be creatures in their own right, or his own inner voice and demons. He is barely visible inside a wooden and metal frame, chains rattling at the back of this solid, immovable structure. While at times it is functional, giving a visible constraint to the pit he is in, physical and metaphorical, it does feel restrictive in a larger sense. It reduces and restricts the playing space and what is possible considerably, leaving Legion and his band to pace the narrow front. A couple of death mask, or day of the dead painted, demons use it to deliver songs from, making it an impromptu stage.
Gregg's music and songs fill the piece and echo that bluegrass and country feel, reminding us where we are, especially the steam boat song. As the piece goes on the music becomes less, becoming more soundtrack than songs, which is a pity, as the songs are good with smart lyrics and could pepper the piece even more, while the musicians deliver them well, both playing and singing, conjuring up themes of the piece while being entertaining as well.
Overall, Venom So Sweet is venom more than sweet, the title coming from a wonderful line in the piece. Legion is less than sweet and more panderer or populist. It did feel like a larger piece trying to break out from its confines, a little like Legion himself wishing to break out of his own imprisonment, partly of his own making. If it does, there is a feeling that it too will broaden and become even better, and perhaps musically, and staging wise, fuller. That would indeed be Venom So Sweet.
Runs until November 5th 2016
CAST
Roger Gregg / Legion
Juliette Crosbie / Demons
Alicky Hess / Demons
Madi O’Carroll / Demons
CREATIVE TEAM
Roger Gregg / Writer
James O’Connor / Director
Joe O’Neill / Producer
Pavel Sedláček/Photographer
Pavel Sedláček/Photographer
The design has been devised in collaboration by the company.
Presented by Little Shadow Theatre Company in association with Theatre Upstairs.
