Playing up 9 - New play showcase
Northern Stage
27th Feb 2019
Tonight's showcase was for five new short plays all written and directed by local writers and directors and performed by local actors in two acts.
First up was Something Less Deplorable by Luke Bateman and directed by Jack Hilton. Opening with music, two friends come together on a hilltop at dusk. Adam (Alastair Park) as the frustrated friend who wants more than just friendship from Laith (James Howlett). There’s exchanging of banter back and forth and an imminent issue Adam has with a relative in hospital. Laith is wonderfully camp and there is some sexual tension there. There could be more action and less expedition, to make it more than talking heads. Interesting play all the same exploring unrequited love.
Fucking Black Magic by Chris Wilkins, directed by Anna Snell was a two hander set in a restaurant in what first appears as a date and later transpires to be a reunion of David (Mark Buckley) and his estranged birth mother Tracey (Mary Pickin) the second play in a row with the c word among many other expletives. David's job in risk management is somewhat mocked and the relationship is anything but instantly loving. Tracey is excellent and charismatic, but somewhat blasé in nature. David is almost polar opposite. This was funny and well paced and had a nice resolution.
How Not To Date by Elle Douglas, directed by Beth O’Doherty Does exactly as it says on the tin. This works as a kind of romcom-esque play. Two unlucky in love singletons are taking the leap and meeting a stranger from online in person! Asking the question is it possible to have a successful first date? This all played out in a peep show like style, in which we here Lucy and Mike’s inner thoughts are voiced by other actors as a sort of inner conflict and commentary on the disaster unfolding. Lucy is played by Eilish Stout Cairns and Eleanor Beck. Mike is played by Craig Fairbairn and Liam Scarth. This highlights the awkwardness of modern dating and the desperate measures some people go to, to find companionship. Quite amusing with high energy.
Soulmates by Lewis Cuthbert , directed by Matt Jamie was the first play of the second act. Starting with a commercial for Sycorax Systems Incorporated the world leaders in soul transfer. This is science fiction in a black mirror sort of style. The commercial is very comical as the supposed alive patients seem to be in an almost catatonic state. In what should be a demonstration of the system working an ex solider freaks out at the idea he has been resurrected, meanwhile an angry father confronts the company after his daughter died and wasn’t able to use their technology. Wonderfully corporate from start to finish ending on a nice punchline.
The final play was Paper Plane by Rachael Walsh, co directed by Richard Gardner. Opening with music It’s Luke’s (Adam Jordan Donaldson) wedding day and his best man is a woman, Poppy (Jude Nelson). Tom (Benjamin Storey) is Poppy’s ex, this plays out as a kind of a love quadrangle. It asks the when Harry met sally question of can men and women truly just be good friends? It’s well placed, with good humour and drama in places. Poppy makes a powerful best man speech and Tom woefully attempts to get Poppy back. There’s a good level of tension, drama and feels here. It addresses the unrealistic expectations films and theatre presents of romantic love. Well performed.
Producers : Lewis Cuthbert, John Harrison, Chris Wilkins
Technician: Jayden Blacklock
To get involved with playing it up contact them by email : playing_up@outlook.com Twitter @playingup_tc
Blog: https://playingupblog.wordpress.com
Next Playing Up 10th May
Frank Cromartie Murphy
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