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This is where you stick random tidbits of information about yourself.
Age 23, living in sin in Twickenham with Cheesy
Likes
Movies
Books
Writing
Theatre
Hugs
Kittens
Chess
Scrabble (mostly beating Cheesy's butt)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dislikes
Vegetables
Arguments
Cleaning
Trashy TV
Pretensions
Public Transport
Pets
Rabbits-Bambi, Fern, Sooty, Pippa-all deceased
Dog-Sammy-deceased :(
Fish-CatFlap-recently (and finally!) deceased
Cat-Tiggy-still scratching
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Technically Rachel
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Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Review
Thought I'd do a little review of sorts of the play I went to see recently. It was called "Break Away" by Dameon Garnett, over at the Finborough. This was a really great show - the production quality was outstanding for a fringe production - the set was simple and polished, and the directing and acting on all counts could not be faulted. This is kinda rare, even on professional stages. I find that there's always a weak link - someone who doesn't quite fit their part, or someone who is just a weaker actor than the rest. But everyone here was great. One actress needs to get rid of her "Keira-Knightley-Alike accent and tone, but that got better as the show went on anyway. However, the script left me a little... uninspired. The comedy material in it is great, as is the serious material - the only problem is, none of it seems to go together. This is a Liverpudlian play which is a little out of its time - if anything, a bad imitation of a Willy Russell play. Willy Russell was very skilled at making us laugh, all the while really showing us something important that was happening, and which usually culminated in a bit of serious stuff towards the end. "Break Away" I think, has tried to do the same thing, but I also think it failed. It set us up with a good comedy situation and good comedy characters - though it took me a while to get into it, this did build up to some genuinly funny set pieces. It even built to a decent serious moment of confrontation, whilst also remembering the comedy element. Then, in the last scene, it falls to pieces for me. Suddenly the main character makes a life changing decision, and simultaneously turns into a bit of a bitch, leading to a closing tense and serious scene between her and the other characters. My main problem with this was the complete lack of build up. In Willy Russell's plays, the serious moment is on its way all the way through - you may not notice it at first, but in retrospect you always will. There was NO buildup to this final scene, no real pushing forces, no hints - almost a case of "Right, I'm tired of the comedy bit now, let's do some serious stuff", with no prethought or planning. And the comedy element is completely forgotten. The comedy has been used for comedy, and the serious for serious, with none of the interlinking that is so necessary for these to be used within the same play. If it had been kept as a frivolous comedy, I think I would have come away more satisfied. If it had all been like the last scene, I could've come away satisfied. But a badly done mix of the two just left me irritated. And the over-indulgent references to Oscar Wilde just left me cross. Leave him out of it!
My tuppence, done.
9:28 am
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