Multiplex by Christopher William Hill was originally written as one of the plays commissioned for young people by the National Theatre’s Connections Festival. In spirit of this, Multiplex is performed by the Academy of Creative Training’s Youth Theatre.
Multiplex is a relatable and fun show, but it needs polish and discipline from the director.
Multiplex is about a group of ushers working in a cinema, and the dog eat dog drama of their social hierarchy. King (Sam Landon) is king of the ushers and a future film maker, backed by two henchmen, Spike (Yasmin Alkardi) and Elton (Chloe Keen). But the social order is thrown into chaos when his authority is challenged by newbie and film buff, Mouse.
Due to illness, the cast member playing Mouse was played by Eleanor Finlay-Christensen who steps up brilliantly, the script barely noticeable and the character played with appropriate mousiness. Finlay-Christensen’s character is one of two who sign, which provides some of the most interesting moments, granting insight into the visual gratification film can bring without sound, and harking back to the days when film was silent and grainy. Hill quotes several classic movie lines which sometimes feel a little lost on the young cast, but prompt a list of must-see films the quality of which are lost in the digital age, as the character of King implies.
The characters are written very closely to real life and performed comfortably by the cast, particularly Landon and Alkardi, and Hill’s script enables every actor to have their moment in the limelight, where they shine best. Charlie Suff embraces the difficult role of narrating very naturally too although he, and everybody else could afford to be a little more daring with their parts and vary their rhythms and tonality vocally more often. Of course there are a few fluffed lines and this youth theatre could benefit from some exercises developing its sense of ensemble and unity with all the synchronised moments. However director Jules Craig does do some interesting things dramatically which challenge the cast concerning their own lighting by torch, and movement particularly through group scenes.
ACT Youth Theatre are colourful characters with the ability to make an audience laugh, but with room for their performances to mature possibly with a less technically challenging script and more emotionally mature one if some of these young actors want to pursue the spotlight they deserve. Multiplex is a relatable and fun show, but it needs polish and discipline from the director.
