Told through paper mementos, A History of Paper is an epic love story. Narrated by the male lead, we follow the highs and lows of his romantic journey, assisted by various tokens that he has carefully preserved. There’s a melancholic undertone to each romantic scene because we know that at some point these Scottish lovers will be divided. That only adds to the poignancy of the musical numbers. The music is simple and sweet, with quite a pared back vocal performance from both actors, allowing the meaning of each song to sink in.
An epic love story
Emma Mullen is charming and feisty, with a clear, bell-like tone to her vocals that would not be out of place in a church. She plays the character with such humour and warmth that we can easily understand why our leading man has fallen instantly in love. Christopher Jordan-Marshall is her perfect match, bringing a depth of emotion to each stage of his love and loss, and truly immersing the audience in his experience at each step of the way. Their voices mingled beautifully in each musical number, with the help of the talented Gavin Whitworth, Musical Director, on piano.
The only flaw might be how quickly we jump to the termination of their relationship, without getting as much time as we’d like to linger in their courtship. Hopefully the show gets picked up after the Fringe and afforded a longer running time; we would all appreciate more joyful moments with the couple before disaster strikes.
