Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Pride of Hull...

Review from Hull Daily Mail...










PRIDE OF HULL
by Dale Haslam

09:10 - 24 May 2006
As a Mancunian living in Hull, I am always curious when the locals take a swipe at their fair city in one breath before waxing lyrical about how much they love it the next.

So I was surprised to learn a trip to Hull Truck Theatre could give me not only an education about the area's past, but also an in-depth understanding of how proud Hullonians are of their sporting heritage.

Sully tells the story of one of Hull's most famous sons (via the Welsh valleys, of course) - 70s and 80s rugby league legend Clive Sullivan (played by Fidel Nanton).

I wondered how the cast could use such a small stage to recreate an animated tale of heroic rags-to-riches sporting glory played out across acres of green land at the Boulevard and Craven Park, where Sullivan scored an incredible tally of 350 tries.

But co-directors Martin Barrass and Gareth Tudor Price did a superb job. With just three actors, a few props and wonderful improvisation, they turned Dave Windass's tale into a chuckle-a-minute thrill.

West Hull taxi driver Max (Lee Green) and his east Hull passenger Chelle (Natalie Blades) are frustratingly stuck in traffic after an accident on Clive Sullivan Way. In a bizarre twist of fate, they come across the ghost of the great man Sullivan himself.

They reminisce with him about his glory days in the black-and-white hoops of Hull FC and the red-and-white colours of rivals Hull KR.

From humble beginnings in a quaint Welsh village - when Clive and his three siblings were known as the "flying Sullivans" for their breathtaking pace - to a career on the field with the two Hull clubs and off it with the RAF, Sully takes the crowd on a whistle-stop tour of a lifetime of talent and triumph, but ultimately of torment and tragedy.

With comedy tinged with drama and even a dash of audience participation from the more vociferous rugby fans, the show certainly stirred the imaginations - and memories - of those looking on.

And strong performances from all three actors helped make it a real winner.

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