‘Erroneous’ - a Concatenate Theatre piece - is a play which explores the fleeting exultance of youth, fathomless depths of old age and the relationships which last throughout. Two threads of story ran parallel: one followed the lives of seven young people whilst the other was the story of one man coping with old age, loneliness and the sudden emergence of a long lost family. Old age pensioner Harold Wallace finds out late in life that his wife gave up their daughter for adoption without him ever meeting her, what is ensues as Harold goes to seek her out is both insightful and funny. With a clever, thought provoking twist and a tear-jerker of an ending, I came away feeling I’d glimpsed the very nature of humanity.
I shall simply say it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
The cast worked cohesively to produce an invigorating theatre experience by interspersing naturalistic acting with bursts of physical theatre, giving it energy and pace. The cast doubled up, playing fellow OAP’s in the hospital as well as the young twenty-somethings Harold meets during his search. This multi-characterisation showcased the talents of all cast members who demonstrated versatility and comic timing. However there could’ve been more interaction between Harold and the younger characters a little earlier, perhaps to create a more intertwined feeling and prevent the two storylines feeling too separate.
Slick transitions were marked with actors assembling set changes whilst in character and high octane choreographed fight scenes alongside the tender, slow dance sequences gave the piece originality and spark. Humour began to emerge as a rapport built between the audience and characters: I rooted for the couple and shared the sorrow of Harold as the relationships developed before my very eyes. Scenes such as the pub sequence in which flips and slides were used to steal seats and characters drunkenly stumbled in perfect unison highlighted the subtlety and effortlessness of the choreography, a true credit to the directors.
The actors playing Stephen and Harold particularly stood out for their naturalism and comedic timing, all their reactions felt human and real. The actress playing Grace brought hilarity to the stage with her portrayal of an OAP hopelessly lusting over the younger Harold. A truly convincing portrayal! But it’s hard to pick out any one actors or actress as more impressive than any other, they all shone and there wasn’t one weak link. Considering how gushy this is becoming, and the difficulty to find any constructive criticisms to end on I shall simply say it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
