Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Bones

 
Hayley Sophie Scott Review by Hayley Sophie Scott 4 Published: 17 Aug 2016 theSpace @ Surgeons Hall Show Dates: 5 Aug 2016-19 Aug 2016

Bones is one of the most high-energy monologues you will see this Fringe. Unable to decide whether or not to kill his baby sister, that he has been left to care for, Mark (Dominic Thompson) regales the audience with stories from his past, transitioning fluently between events from his childhood and from that very night. Dark, harrowing and emotive, the piece allows no rest for actor or audience.

An ambitious, impressive and gritty piece of theatre.

It would be impossible to watch Bones without appreciating the talent and intensity surrounding the piece. Thompson’s performance overall is very, very strong. There are times when he gets carried away and some of the emotional changes seem too sharp and out of nowhere; a technique which is effective at points in the play, but is used too frequently. However, Thompson is utterly convincing as Mark and manages to pull off the lighter comedic moments just as well as the far more emotional ones. One of the most commendable things about Thompson’s performance is that he manages to give Mark some likeable qualities, despite him being a pretty deplorable character.

Part of that is due to Jane Upton’s excellent writing. The piece is very well crafted and flows steadily and clearly to the eventual climax. Mark’s story is poignant, moving and humbling. By showing things from his perspective as a young boy, Upton taps into the sympathetic side of the audience, giving the piece a new level of engagement.

Ian Robert Moule’s direction is clever and not over-ambitious. He could have benefitted from more moments of stillness and calm in order to get the full effect of the more frantic moments, but he handles the changes between Mark’s childhood and the present day extremely well and uses the lack of props and set in impressively effective ways.

Bones is a testament to how much can be achieved in such a small space with such little set. In this sense, it embodies the spirit of the Fringe. When you leave the theatre, you will not really know what to say or how to respond when people ask “How was that? Did you like it?” You will not leave laughing or feeling uplifted. But you will leave knowing that you just witnessed an ambitious, impressive and gritty piece of theatre.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

19-year-old Mark knows he has to make a choice that could change things forever, as he is living a life he never signed up for. But how far will he go? This poignant, emotionally charged monologue about a boy trying to find his place in a world that doesn’t want him will chew you up, spit you out, then make you wonder why you cared in the first place. **** (BroadwayBaby.com).