Writer/Lyricist: Poppy Hollman
Composer: Dan McGlade
Director: Gitika Buttoo
Plays about ramblers have obviously learned a lesson from London buses: they arrive two at a time! In Mikron Theatre’s Common Ground there are resemblances to Townsend Productions’ Behold Ye Ramblers, notably the gloriously informal one night stands approach, the quantity of original songs and the multitude of doubling that goes on, but many essential differences: Townsend concentrates on the story of the Clarion Ramblers whereas Mikron takes the broader view (with the odd passing reference to Clarion), fictionalising the whole thing and taking every opportunity to have fun.
It’s the usual Mikron formula – four actor/musicians, telling a fictional story with historical facts (and non-historical characters) thrown into the mix, but Poppy Hollman has found new ways to twist the story. We begin with grumpy Frank (Eddie Ahrens) and dedicated Jamie (Mark Emmons) clearing the path for Pendale Ramblers anniversary walk, helped/hindered by ageing firebrand Winifred (Georgina Liley) Meanwhile TikTok influencer Myra (Lauren Robinson) with her dopey PA Bunny (Liley) has hopes of grouse shoots and hunt balls with her uber-posh friend Portia (Ahrens) who is, of course, planning to block off the ramblers’ path for her own nefarious purposes. William the Conqueror and the Wordsworths put in appearances, with Mary (Liley) representing the peasant who is always there (from Saxon times onwards) unchanging, but aware of the transformation in land and laws with the centuries.
Gitika Buttoo’s brisk production is full of entertaining caricatures, Ahrens’ strangulated vowels as Portia and Liley’s monotonous delivery of portentous information as Mary particularly amusing. Frank – wouldn’t you know? – is preparing a book on the history of rambling and, between him, Mary and assorted historical figures, we get a pretty full account of rambling, enclosures and trespasses through the ages.
What is particularly impressive is the fact that, despite whizzing from character to character and going amusingly over the top, when there is a chance to develop a character, it’s seized with both hands. Mark Emmons makes Jamie a real conflicted person, primary school teacher, devoted to the pathway in memory of his father, overcome by the amount of work required and determined to avoid conflict. Lauren Robinson’s influencer, ambitious, with a giddy public persona, but essentially extraordinarily naive, is another who inspires sympathy, her song, A Figure Alone in the Landscape, especially moving.
Dan McGlade’s settings of Poppy Holman’s lyrics produce many memorable moments, from the historical approach of “An epic song about land access in Britain” (with its wonderful line, “The Diggers were the hippies of the English Civil War”) to a vocal quartet in the roles of sheep – very convincing! – varying an old song as Don’t Electric Fence Me In.
Celia Perkins designed an evocative rural screen for the actors to nip behind to change their headgear and characters, plus an easily assemblable gate/style, the actors lived up to their Actors/Musicians training by singing and playing assorted instruments as well as they acted, and the sun over Scarcroft Allotments made for a perfect afternoon.
Reviewed on 19th May 2024. Touring the UK.