Overdue
By Arabella Arnott
Alphabetti Theatre
St James Boulevard,
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Monday 4 to Saturday 16 September 2017
We were delighted to be part of the opening night of Alphabetti
Theatre’s new venue on St James’ Boulevard in Newcastle. While everything was
ready for opening to the public I really would not have been surprised to bump
into someone sporting a hard hat and hi-viz vest. However as someone once said
‘The play’s the thing’, so bring on the world premier!
A minimal set on a Thrust with just two pieces of furniture
downstage and a park bench and rubbish bin upstage were enough to stage this
engaging piece of work written by Arabella Arnott, directed by Matt Jamie and designed
by Alison Ashton
Beth and John are talking but not communicating…
Rosie Stancliffe plays Beth; A challenging role for any actor to
pull off, in that she has to be frustratingly annoying claiming everything is
ok, but it’s clearly not. However her acting skills make her captivating enough
for the audience to give her and the play the opportunity to develop to its
conclusion. An assured performance that ticks all of the boxes you hope for. Christopher
Price delivers a realistic performance playing her partner John desperately
trying to understand what is going on in Beths head with simmering frustration
but with continued sometimes suffocating support.
Skyla Pierce brings an appealing freshness of a schoolgirl who
finds herself an unmarried mother at fifteen who enables Beth to reflect on her
own life and what might have been. Benjamin Michael Smith completes the cast
playing Jack a mysterious character with a bright likable personality you would
like to get to know better.
A well written thought provoking play, which resonated with the
audience.
The Alphabetti Theatre is a venue to keep an eye on for future
productions.
Running time 1 hour 20 mins.
NETheatre
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