Thought-provoking musical theatre

Y Tŵr, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

DURING the interval of the world premiere of Guto Puw’s opera, Y Tŵr, based on the play of the same name by Welsh writer Gwenlyn Parry, a friend asked me if I was enjoying it.

Enjoy is not quite the right word to describe how one feels about this rather bleak and disturbing exploration of the emotional extremes experienced by two unnamed lovers in the course of a lifetime.

It is an impressive, thought-provoking piece of musical theatre which leaves one feeling unsettled and perturbed. In that sense it is not enjoyable.

Directed by Michael McCarthy, and with a libretto by Gwyneth Glyn, this Music Theatre Wales production was the opening event in this year’s Vale of Glamorgan Festival.

It tells the life story of the Female, played by Caryl Hughes, and the Male, played by Gwion Thomas, in three concise acts – Summer, Autumn and Winter. The action takes place in “the tower” of the title and charts how the early dreams and promises of the first flush of love fade through the autumn of middle age and all but disappear in the betrayal and compromise of the winter of old age.

While there are moments of black humour and even optimism, these are rare, and the production might have benefited from a few more lighter moments.

Centre stage is a ladder, seemingly reaching up to a kind of heaven. At various time the couple contemplate climbing the ladder together “hand in hand, no fear no regrets.” They never quite achieve it. In each scene a train passes in the distance, perhaps representing missed opportunities.

In his work, the late Mr Parry, who was inspired by Brecht and Ionesco, explored what philosopher JR Jones called “the crisis of meaninglessness”.

This production had about it a feeling of the Theatre of the Absurd in its presentation of the couple as often isolated figures, with feelings of bewilderment and purposelessness.

The music, beautifully played by Music Theatre Wales ensemble, captured the emotions of each act.

Peter Collins