A nervous young man stands on stage with a guitar at a microphone, ready to perform. For a second we wonder if this will permeate the performance, making it a quite anxious watch. Then he introduces himself: Mark. We realise we’re the audience at an open mic night, which he’s never done before. It’s a tricky thing, to start a play with a nervous character alone on stage, but the result is so authentic we become nervous for him. We’re on board, rooting for him, sailing the seas of this part of his life as he lives it; laughing, cringing, crying and everything in between.
Brave, raw, and at the same time polished, authentic and utterly captivating
This is a stunning production. It’s so understated that it grabs you by both the heart and mind unawares. The story unfolds in a natural, grounded way, with both funny and tragic elements finely balanced. Seb Yates-Cridland as Mark and Heather Porte as Jenna are so easy with each other; their falling in love is wonderfully believable and just the right amount of sweet. The way they play with each other’s hands, folding into each other, is acutely well played and incredibly real.
There’s a moment where Mark steps outside himself to sing and watch what’s going on that is utterly gorgeous and inventive, characteristic of the beautiful direction throughout by Will Holyhead and Jamie Jonathan, who also writes. There is no fat in this play, no fluff. It is pure and lean, with genuine emotion throughout. Almost every moment is a standout. It’s as if you need to hold your breath while you watch.
The story is also an important one, told in a fresh way: how grief changes us, what it’s like to miss someone so much it hurts like a physical pain. And how, as Jenna says to Mark, maybe we should focus more on the living part and less on the dying part. Heather Porte plays a strong and determined Jenna, with an unquenchable zest for life and a subtle layer of vulnerability. Seb Yates-Cridland brings a reserved, emotionally taut Mark to life — full of grief at the start and trying to find his place in the world. Together, they are magic. Watching their story unfold is gripping and, let’s not forget, also incredibly funny.
The writing is gorgeous, balancing the poignant, profound and seriously funny. Themes return and feel new each time, shifting with the emotional landscape.
The music, by Sam Thrussell and sung by Seb while playing acoustic guitar, is sublime. The melodies are fresh and the lyrics help Mark express what he feels but cannot say. Even the way he performs the songs changes as he moves through grief and healing.
This is brave, raw, and at the same time polished, authentic and utterly captivating. It encourages us to keep dreaming, and to live a little. It’s incredible, profound and magical — and so humble and modest it has no idea how good it is. An utter joy.
