The students in this house-share face questions typical to their situation, like how do you split a broadband bill? Or does never doing the washing up make you a git? However, they also face some more unusual questions, like how do you grieve when you’re confused about, or angry with, the person you’ve lost?
A moving piece of new writing, performed with energy and truth by a strong cast, which ensures a powerful, lasting impact.
Vicki Baron’s new play explores the mourning process of three flatmates for their deceased fourth. It is billed as a dark comedy, and although there are certainly laughs, it is also sharply poignant. The writing is consistently engaging, and the relationship types and tensions of student living are well observed and depicted.
Monologue answerphone messages punctuate the play and add depth. Aislinn De Ath performs these beautifully, with investment, and develops a clear and involving emotional journey, despite these monologues being performed only vocally, from off-stage. She succeeds in communicating the vast breadth of emotions which grief unearths, and creates a lasting image of someone desperately grappling to regain control of her feelings.
Jon Cottrell and Julia Yelland who complete the cast, also juggle strong, conflicting emotions, and perform them with truth and power. Their performances during the powerful closing scene are captivating, and it is to their credit that members of the audience had tears in their eyes.
A considerable pace was maintained throughout, despite the heavy subject matter, and comic moments were maximised on without breaking the atmosphere of the scene. Strong direction ensured that emotional crescendos were reached organically, as a result of the preceding dialogue, and were therefore more powerful. The relationships all felt well rounded, and the roles within the friendship group convincing and maintained.
The sharp writing is absorbing, but often it felt like scenes, which the audience were captivated by, ended prematurely. Foundations are laid for powerful climaxes, but these are barely touched upon before a blackout stops the actors dead. With such well established characters and relationships, it was a little frustrating to be denied a view of how things pan out after their explosions and confrontations.
A moving piece of new writing, performed with energy and truth by a strong cast, which ensures a powerful, lasting impact.
