Nottingham Playhouse

when i watched beast on the moon at first i didn’t understand what it was about but then as i watched a little more i began to realise and at the end i thought it was a really good play. It wasn’t something i imagined but it was really good, i especially liked how one of the actors turned from an old man into a young boy he acted that out very good and it looked very hard to do.

Kelly-Marie Mcphilbin

On Friday the 2nd to the 17th of November the beast on the moon was performed at the Nottingham playhouse. The author Richard kalinoski should be very proud of his production as it was an inspiring play about love and kindness which left a warm feeling in the audience’s hearts. The story was about a man who ordered a mail order bride then finds out that the girl in the photo is not the one he wanted but he still loves the women but they have some arguments in the play but very funny arguments. The main themes of the play are love, devotion and family the actors show real commitment to their roles it is almost as if they were real lovers .the set was an unusual one as it was just one room and there was only a few cabinets and some suitcases on the floor also a table. The play was very good and I would definitely go and see it again.

Jake Gardner, Redhill School.

A poem by a member of the Critic’s Circle Beast on the Moon by Sarah Coulson

Beast on the Moon by Sarah Coulson

Dear Aram,
You brought me here to Milwaukee and
Saved me from a life of loneliness and misery
I thank you
I know I wasn’t the face in the picture
But you accepted me
I thank you
I was scared of this new world but
You protected me and took care of me
I thank you
You showed me life and how to live it
You showed me friendship and how to build it
I thank you
I know you wanted a family
But I was unable to conceive
We had the strength to carry on and for that…
I thank you
Vincent came into our lives a vulnerable boy
You over came you unease to embrace him
I thank you
You let me show you how to grieve
And how to express your feelings openly
Fate and tragedy brought us together
You showed me compassion, trust and caring and for this…
I LOVE YOU
Seta xxx

Pointless Death by Thomas Hall

One day I had a happy life,
One day a long time gone,
But that was before the Turks came,
Now I’m the only one.

They shot my parents dead,
Right in front of me,
They held my eyelids open,
So I had to see.

They kicked me and whipped me,
Set fire to my home,
Then they rode off,
And left me all alone.

They say it is an act of God,
Yes, him up there in the sky,
But I thought he was the Creator,
Surely he doesn’t want people to die.

Seta Diary Entry

Today was filled with a mix of emotions as I found out that I have got a chance to start my own family, I am happy and grateful that I have this opportunity but I am scared that it might go wrong like my last family did. What if it happens again? I only have a week left here until I am deported to America. Im so relieved that I don’t have to stay here much longer. I know I should be happy that I get a chance to start again but what if Mr Tomasian is horrible and what if he tries to hurt me, I guess I will find out soon

By Hayden Pennistone, Henry Mellish

Beast on the Moon

A Diary Entry of Seta by Cissy Radford
When I got told that Aram wanted to marry me, I didn’t know what to say. All my life I’ve wanted to get married and then it finally happened. I had all these ideas of our life together and what we were going to do, like, go on holiday, have children and live in a big house somewhere. I couldn’t wait; I couldn’t wait to see what he was like, hear his voice and see his house. On the train journey down I had butterflies in my stomach, I wondered if he would like me or if I was what he was expecting.
When I arrived there it was like a dream. I had my own house, a lovely little village and all the people looked very nice. Aram seemed to like me and I liked him as well. But I got upset when he asked me to put my doll away. He told me I was like a little child; I still am a little child. I was very nervous and scared and didn’t want to do anything wrong or anything that would upset him because he seemed a bit strict. I am happy to be here though and am looking forward to our life together.

Beast On The Moon by Pippa Waite

This play is a very moving piece by Richard Kalinoski, on paper it doesn’t seem like a good play to watch. It is based in one room, a simple room at that and it has 4 characters played by 3 actors. But the dialogue is deep and gives us an inside to what it might have been like during the Armenian Genocide.
It is a love story narrated by one man only identified as a ‘gentleman’ the actor that plays him then also plays a young boy who visits, the transition from ‘gentleman’ to young boy is very well done by the actor.
Seta is a young 16 year old girl who refuses to grow up into a young girl, the doll she wants to keep reminds us that she doesn’t want to let go of her childhood. Aram just wants her to grow up and assist him in bed so she can conceive and give him a child that he has always wanted, when he finds out she cannot become pregnant he is devastated.
Overall I think it is a very emotional and strong piece although I feel it is for the older audience.

Review of ‘Beast on the Moon"- Millie Turner

Aram Tomasian, a young Armenian photographer living in Milwaukee, America, orders a hand picked perfect Armenian Lady, Seta. Seta his American dream is the beginning of a perfect family to replace the one snatched from his quivering hands.Seta a mere child wanting to forget her past; Aram a man trying to salvage a future.

The play is set in the 1920’s just after the Armenian genocide, which forced deportation and death upon 1.5 million Armenians due to the rule of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire. At first although I found the ideas of the play thought provoking I could not help but be slightly dulled by the approach to the text. For me a 17 year old girl who may not after a day at school be interested in just "words" would have preferred a more stylised performance, relying on visual concepts. All this being said that is simply my taste and despite my initial response to the way the play was directed I still found myself hurting, praying and sympathising with the words of Karine Bedrossian who played Seta as she was made to do things a young girl should not be forced to do.

The dictionary states: ‘A narrator is to give an account or tell the story of events, experiences, etc.’ In the case of this play this is what Paul Greenwood did, no more and no less, in my opinion. Unfortunately his technique I found irritating, almost like an annoying Granddad that will persist on recounting the stories of his life in the most dramatic way possible. Be that as it may his indescribable portrayal of a young boy in the second half of the play had me forgetting I ever doubted him whilst my image of an older man was gladly replaced with the energy, charisma and innocence of a small homeless boy.

As a whole the play had me immersed in the situation that was being portrayed. Some moments of brilliance had me trapped within my feelings such as when Seta hid under the table, afraid of Aram because she did not want to sleep with him. Sadly other points in the play had me lost in the Playhouse’s roof lighting for example some of the repetitive, endless speeches.

All though, if asked, I would not openly choose to watch this play again I would however recommend it to you if you have an interest in thinking about the roles of women, marriage and family. If literature is your cup of tea, then this is the play for you.

Laura Rudolph’s Review

Giles Croft’s revival of Kalinoski’s ‘Beast on the Moon’ was more than just successful. It was directed in such a way that really brought the forgotten barbarity of the Armenian Genocide to life for a modern audience who couldn’t be more attached from the atrocity. The extermination of the Armenian people in the early 20th century is very rarely mentioned and has been referred to as the ‘forgotten genocide’. However, Kalinoski’s heart warming character are devised in such a way that brings our attention to the horrific facts and makes us face the truth about the evil that lurks in all our lives.
Aram, the repressed and uninviting Armenian, is a character that Youssef Kerkour has made us love to hate. Kerkour plays him in such a way that despite us hating his obsession with making babies we can’t help but love his kind nature. The way that Kerkour describes the extermination of Aram’s family makes us love and understand him even more. It is an extremely important moment in the play because we can suddenly comprehend why Aram is like he is. He has clearly had a great deal of psychological damage which has damaged his life and the way he looks at it. Juxtaposed with his character is the irrepressible Seta, play by Karine Bedrossian. Karine manages to play her with both comedy and empathy. Seta is introduced as the heart off innocence yet she becomes the one who brings peace and understand to both Aram and Vincent’s lives.
The design of the play seemed to be highly relevant. The stage of the Nottingham Playhouse is, by nature, large but a small environment was created by only using the centre of the space. This enabled the narrator to have a world outside his memory where he could walk around. He deliberately walked in and out of his memory as he chose to. There were no doors which reinforced the idea of the set being a party of someone’s memory. In a memory you do not see details like doors but, instead, you tend to remember things like wall paper and ornaments.
The final image of Aram, Seta and Vincent is one of beautiful imagery. They were placed exactly where the portrait of Aram’s dead family was and, as a result, we see how Aram has achieved, in an unexpected way, what he has always dreamed of: a family. Despite Seta’s infertility they manage to have a child and fall in love. A barren wife may have initially been Aram’s worst nightmare but he overcomes this and learns to love.

Beast on the Moon – Review

Before it had even begun, my expectations were already high for Richard Kalinoski’s award winning Beast on the Moon. This wasn’t only because of the plays previous successes but because I was immediately captivated by the beautiful and un-usual set, which looked as if someone had cut a crumbling slice out of a house and placed it centre stage.

The lights went down, the stage lit, the play began….

Set in 1920s Milwaukee, it begins with the arrival of Aram’s (Youssef Kerkour) teenage mail order bride, Seta, (Karine Bedrossian). Both are Armenian orphans, both affected by the genocide that killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, including Seta’s mother and Aram’s entire family. Their tragic stories steadily unfold through the story telling of Paul Greenwood as an old Gentleman.

The performance and script had such a natural fluidity that it seemed as if you were watching a slice of the couple’s life together. Being just in one room the play was carried through the dialogue, which was delivered seamlessly; Youssef Kerkour portrayed the stand-offish Aram, his horrific past hiding behind a straight face.

Bedrossian really captured the liveliness and innocence of the loveable Seta; she quickly gained the audience’s sympathy as she progressed through life un-able to give her husband the family he really wants.

Paul Greenwood gave an un-forgettable performance, with Tom Hanks-like flare he switched from the character of old man to young boy effortlessly.

I couldn’t have possible imagined leaving the theatre as I did, the story was told and acted so beautifully, that never once did I think what I was watching wasn’t real. The play was a reminder of the horrors that some have to face and how many of the problems in the world are both created and solved by mankind (and a mail order bride).

By Emma Winter

What The Critics Said (07-Nov-07)

The Times

’Perfectly paced, nicely staged and brilliantly acted, it’s the rare theatrical equivalent of the third bowl of porridge- just right’

’Nottingham Playhouse’s triumphant version of Richard Kalinoski’s award winning love story’

’My wariness was ill-founded. This production is brilliant’

’All three actors turn in quite astonishing performances to create a night of involving and moving drama.’

’Bedrossian emanates warmth and loveliness as the lively Seta, bringing both a tender vulnerability and sparky passion to the part’

’an enthralling evening’

BBC Nottingham, Rachel Reed, 7th November

’Love and loss in uplifting drama’

’acted with great commitment...stand-out show’

Youssef Kerkour ’cracks the challenge of portraying a childish, pompous man and convincing us of his decency’

’Karine Bedrossian [delivers]...a detailed emotionally engaging performance’

"I rarely say it: see it."

The Evening Post, Jeremy Lewis, 7th November

’Beast On The Moon is a compelling tale about coming to terms with the past in every sense.’

’Karine Bedrossian and Youssef Kerkour give convincing performances as the couple, laying bare their characters’ inner turmoil’

NG Magazine Kat Hall

’given the nod of approval by no less a person that its writer’

’A thought-provoking love story with darker issues’

’the couple played beautifully by Karine bedrossian and Youssef Kerkour command the stage throughout’

’a thought-provoking piece that has much to say and even more on which to ponder long after the final curtain’

The Derby Evening Telegraph, Zena Hawley, 7th November

’A chance to understand history, to understand the present. Does history repeat it self? And the consequences for each one of us? Go and see- not to be missed!’

’Karine Bedrossian plays a warm-hearted and responisve Seta’

’Congratulations to designer Dawn Allsopp for a lovely set which always supports the action, and to lighting designer James Farncombe. An essential part of the story is that which is the theme of photography plays and Farncombe makes some very good pictures!’

’A coup for director Giles Croft...’

theatreworld Internet Magazine, Elaine Peel, 8th November 2007

’Highly effective’

’Richard Kalinoski’s small quiet play has a big, unashamedly sentimental heart’

The Guardian, Lyn Gardner, 8th November

’Hard won happiness in the shadow of political tragedy’

’This little acknowledged but widely known genocide is not the most obvious stuff of entertainment, yet this insightful look at the lives that follow is riveting’

’Both finely acted and directed...’

Reviewsgate (online) Jen Mitchell, 13th November