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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Dead Guy's Reunion
Verdict: Entertaining reunion with emotional depth
London - Landor Theatre - March 03
Five friends, mid- to late-20s, are reunited in the pub on the eve of their close gay friend's funeral (writes Alison Collinge). Paul is your stereotypical tough guy, apprehensive about seeing his ex-lover Lauren after 5 years. Anne and Jonathan are, on the surface, happily married - but at a rocky patch in their relationship. Stephen is the lover of Guy, putting on a brave face. He's feeling lost and grief-stricken.
Gareth Kane plays Paul - who 'pretends not to care which shows how much he does' - in a comic yet endearing way. He has outstanding timing, and reveals the vulnerable side of Paul's character with both ease and a naturalness that is a pleasure to watch.
The chemistry between Kane's Paul and Paul's ex, Lauren (Zoe Robinson) is compelling. Robinson plays Lauren with elegance and grace, keeping a girlish quality which the audience warms to. Jonathan (Simon Vinnicombe) is a complex character, coming to terms with being a grown-up. He has a lot of suppressed anger, which Vinnicombe portrays well - though at times with a little too much animation.
There are touching scenes between Jonathan and his wife Anne. Kathy Hipperson plays Anne beautifully, interacting well with the other characters, and with great truthfulness. Jude Wild invests Stephen with a sense of vulnerability and loneliness - you want to reach out to him. However the monologues, beautifully written, need a rawness and depth the text deserves.
Dead Guy's Reunion is at times very touching and thoroughly entertaining. It delivers emotional depth with realism and comic values.
Credits: Cast (alpha order): Kathy Hipperson (Anne), Gareth Kane (Paul), Zoe Robinson (Lauren), Simon Vinnicombe (Jonathan), Jude Wild (Stephen). Company: Technical Director - David Budd. Director - Nevil Michaels. Writers - David Budd, Nevil Michaels. Company - CryHelp Productions
END
(c) Alison Collinge 27 March 03 / reviewed Landor Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
