In 1978, Hildegard Neil and Ian Hogg worked together in the film The Legacy. Its taken over thirty years for these two Royal Shakespeare Company actors to join
forces again - its been well worth the wait.
Hildegard and Rosalind star in the UK tour of Stephen M. Hunt's debut play
Impossible Steps - Hlidegard's performance of "Not-An-I" won her a Gold Standard Award at the Henley Fringe Festival. The production also received critical acclaim including "..entertains, feeds mind, body and soul.." ***** Watford Observer.
Stephen wrote Permission Painted especially for Hildegard and Rosalind.
Permission Painted is a comedy / drama which tells the story of Clara, a senior citizen with a deep mistrust of people. Alone, she regularly travels up to The British Art Gallery, off London's Piccadilly Circus to talk to the paintings that
are her only friends. Gallery attendants often hear Clara exchanging coquettish secrets with the
two boatng young women in Morisot's A Summer's Day. Sometimes, Clara bares her soul to A
Grotesque Old Woman by Massys. Clara tells this "friend" of her enduring hope to be recomciled
with her darling, Lizzy.
On learning of the pending arrival at the gallery of Alfred Rethel's Nemesis, Clara steels herself
for the confrontation she has craved with that painting for many years. Quivering before
Rethel's Christian-styled interpretation of the Greek godess of retribution, Clara finds the
the courage from somewhere to castigate the white winged angel. Although Clara has never
answered to an earthly court for the heinous crimes of her youth,
she is ferociously angry with Nemesis for punishing her with Albert. How Clara longs
to change places with Albert, to make his life as miserable as he makes hers. With a
defiant wink and a smile, Clara taunts Nemesis with hints of the plan she is devising
to finally rid herself of Albert.
Whether anyone can simply sidestep a Nemesis punishment is another question.
Oblivious of the forces with which she communes, Clara engages with the very
brushstrokes and carved frames that have mesmorised, mocked and played upon
the vanities of her family for generations. The power of art is its influence, Clara
may yet discover that influence to be a one way street.
poochyboy productions
