Currently on courses BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Acting and BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts, students from Preston's College tonight performed at their own studio theatre a deep and at times, disturbing play, the original version written by Fin Kennedy (tonight's play features Charlie as female).
For lead character Charlie, life is spiralling out of control, trapped in the monotony of daily life and working as an advertising executive, she struggles to reach the demands and develops a drug and alcohol habit and has increasing debts. The death of her mother hits her hard and just about pushes her over the top. She carries around her mother's ashes and she is desperately in need of a new beginning after being exposed for embezzlement at work.
With a simple but effective stage set, the scenes are left to your imagination with the central table becoming a counter, a boardroom, a bed, a doctor’s desk and a mortuary slab. The tedium of a repetitive life is depicted by the use of a speaking alarm clock emphasising the sleepless nights and the drone of the weather forecasts which I thought was a clever idea.
Caitlin Finney takes on the role of Charlie and her performance this evening is strikingly impressive. She never falters and I can only imagine she goes home after each performance emotionally drained such is the standard of her manic performance. My heart was going out to her as she became so believable on the stage, we were truly watching a person on the verge of a breakdown. Discussing her problems with Mike, a family friend from the past with a shady background, he offers her a way out, by becoming someone else. Taking on a new identity appears to be an easy thing to do as Mike explains how taking the name of a dead baby from a headstone at the graveyard and applying for a birth certificate is the first step. Follow this by purchasing something and paying cash in instalments using the birth certificate as proof of identity, therefore gaining a credit history and then the loopholes to obtaining drivers license and a passport. Mike played by Brandon Worrall is another strong character in the play and he expresses himself clearly throughout and is acted out convincingly. Sophie is also a central character as the pathologist and performed with ease and a calmness by Chloe Cain, her part becoming evident as the play proceeds.
Kyle Wilkes took on the role of several characters including an unscrupulous landlord and a special mention should be given for the clarity and projection of his voice, something that was lost occasionally with some of the other performers this evening. Make yourself heard.... you are all doing a great job!
After the interval Charlie becomes Eve, so is life happy ever after? The name may change but can the problems really go away? Eve is portrayed by Jasmine Houston who too gives a hauntingly good performance in this demanding role.
There are so many others in this play it is impossible to list them all, but it is apparent with the smoothness it is performed that a lot of dedication and hard work has gone into the production. I will give one more mention to James Spedding as the guy at the tube station who had a natural ease and played the part well. This was not an easy play to perform, often challenging and something that could have gone so wrong but I have witnessed some amazing talent here tonight from so many.
At curtain call I was surprised to see just how many performers had been involved in the play, who all remained in character as they received there justified applause. Several remained on the stage at the end which seemed to confuse the audience as to whether it had actually finished or not.
I think I would have liked to see some smiles during the applause, staring unseeingly into the audience by so many was unnerving, especially as Finney still seemed so much in despair it's an image sticking in my mind, but then that's the acting. Brilliant to the end!
Reviewer: Lorna Weekes
Reviewed: 15th June 2016
