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| He shoots, he scores! Photo: Farrows Creative |
In early 1914, the FA – after being turned down by Tottenham
Hotspur – invited Exeter City FC, as an example of a ‘typical’ British football
club, to embark on a tour of South America. After several successful games in
Argentina, the team headed to Rio de Janeiro to play, on 21st July
1914, what would become a historic match in footballing history: the first ever
played by the newly formed Brazilian national team.
Featuring a cast of 92 – all with Exeter connections, some
performing for the first time – The Day
We Played Brazil (at Exeter Northcott until 27th July 2014) celebrates the centenary of that important moment in
sporting history, following the team on their South American adventure while
revealing what it was like on the home front for the wives, girlfriends, families
and fans, all eagerly devouring news of ‘our boys’ while Europe rumbled steadily
towards war. Through the eyes of several generations of the same family, it
also traces 100 years of Exeter’s relationship with its beloved football team
(including the ill-fated alliance with renowned spoon-bender Uri Geller. No,
really…) from the present day back to coincide with the 1914 storyline. With
rousing songs, stirring crowd scenes and exciting displays of on-pitch prowess
– plus a tender love story at its heart – the production is not only an
impressive example of community theatre but is an interesting speculation on
the nature of civic pride and national identity.
Co-directors Polly Agg-Manning, David Lockwood and Nick
Stimson draw convincing performances from all the cast, but the real star turn –
displaying a superb voice and great comedy chops – is Bethany Watson as Winnie
Prowse, the faithful City fan whose infatuation with legendary goalie Dick
‘Pincher’ Pym and reluctance to entertain potential suitor Tom Davey (a
suitably lovelorn Jim Green) underpins the romance that provides one of the production’s
narrative backbones.
And while the crowd scenes convey the thrill of being part
of something bigger than oneself, generating a warm tingle of fellow-feeling
and community spirit, it’s the scenes with the team, especially those on the
‘pitch’, that stand out most effectively. Beautifully choreographed, with
convincing portrayals from all the actors as both players and characters –
special mention must go to Franko Francis as the splendidly earthy Jimmy Langan
– the games are revealed in a series of slow-mo, balletic vignettes that make
great use of Chris Davies’s lighting design and manage to capture something of
the excitement of a live game in full flow. Simple yet inventive staging –
particularly the representation of the team’s Atlantic crossing – and
intelligent use of the space assist the narrative’s constant shifting between
the personal and the universal, meaning we are never too far from the individual
stories that really make the production shine.
With a desire to cram in references to social and political
change – as well as 100 years of Exeter City’s history – there’s a tendency for
some of the elements to feel a little too fleeting and occasionally forced, and
the characterisation to veer towards stereotype. And while sections of dialogue
don’t quite make it beyond the astro-turfed stage and some solo turns reveal a
mismatch between the demands of the score and vocal ability, this is a
thoroughly enjoyable production packed with energy and ambition that satisfies
on many levels.
Directed by Polly Agg-Manning, David Lockwood & Nick Stimson
Co-produced by Exeter Community Arts Project, Exeter City Football Club,
Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter Northcott
Cast includes: Bethany Watson, Nathan Nuurah, Franko Francis, Jim Green
Running time: 2 hrs 30 mins (15-min interval)
Reviewed for Exeunt
