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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Pillow Scars
Verdict: Sharp quadrants of emotional life
Pillow Scars is four slices from emotional life. They're drama with inherent comedy and total around 40 minutes.
STRIKE A MATCH opens worryingly, bearing in mind that the writer's from New York. Self-absorbed Cailin monologues her interest in Japanese Art. Surely not more pleased-with-myself American writing? Fortunately not, as writer Ethan Kanfer runs on sharp twists of humour. Cailin's filming her dating-agency submission. Director Drake's seen it all before. But could romance be nearer than either imagine?
Dominique Gerrard skilfully evokes Cailin, giving her a hint of bunny-boiling mania. Peter Malone's a subtly-convincing seen-it-all director, with a dash of becoming sleaze. Credits (alpha order): Dominique Gerrard (Cailin). Peter Malone (Drake).
AFTERGLOW. Randall and Maxine have an argument in bed about sex. Past partners Katie and Claus are raked over. Poor Randall just can't do a thing right for Maxine - and she's picking a fight. By way of concession she'll do anything for Randall - except the thing he wanted her to do last year; for which he bought the equipment; the thing she used to do at school with her girl-friends. Will she overcome fear and shame and do it again?
A difficultly about sex-in-bed scenes is that in reality people are naked. Randall and Maxine in shirts and pants look fairly over-dressed for recently or potentially passionate lovers, for practicality if nothing else. Nudity can be difficult in fringe, either from the actors' preferences or the audience's, and the closeness of the stage (mind you, this one's nearly Soho) making it a little in one's face. But directors often work suggestive miracles with sheets and duvets, and that may be a better alternative for this scene. As it is it lacks the heightened sexual charge the writing and excellent acting suggest.
David Vaughan Knight delivers a Randall both long-suffering and persistent with a fine portrayal of benighted tolerance. Naomi Robinson's complaining Maxine is pretty and frisky - bubbling under with impishness, wit, and potential naughtiness. Credits (alpha order): David Vaughan Knight (Randall). Naomi Robinson (Maxine).
PILLOW TALK. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Or, when the cat's away, do the mice behave like rats? Chris gets out of bed missing lover Brett. Brett, 2,000 miles away, misses Chris. But what's Lee doing in the bedroom? And is that just a guitar he's got in his hand?
Dominic Kelly delivers a Chris whose heart-yearning convinces. His evocation of a love that's gone missing is powerful. Wayne Cleworth creates a magnificent Brett. His voicing of Brett's soliloquy is poetic, with a fine delivery that avoids sentimentality in delivering moving emotion. Richard Thomas looks aptly moody and plucks his instrument with finesse. Credits (alpha order): Wayne Cleworth (Brett). Dominic Kelly (Chris). Richard Thomas (Lee).
THE GREAT THING ABOUT YOU. Jack and Holly are best mates. Jack thinks there are so many great things about Holly. They're having a drink in a bar. He's off on a date. Trouble is, Holly's in love with him. Will she reveal her feelings? Clue - American writer. Of course she will, in detail. Jack's inclined to take it as a laugh. But do deeper thoughts lie beneath?
The Great Thing About You is the highlight of the play, due to the elegant comic and dramatic interplay between the Dominique Gerrard as Holly, and Hugh Jones as Jack. Dominique Gerrard delivers a woman close to exploding with passion, tempered with the fear of its consequences; Hugh Jones presents a man battling a pretence of bonhomie that's crushing the emergence of his true feelings - afraid also of their potential. Their performances are perfectly in tune, alive both to the comedy of the script, and its emotion - with crackles of electricity passing between them. Credits (alpha order): Dominique Gerrard (Holly). Hugh Jones (Jack).
The four sketches from Pillow Scars, and their unity, benefit from the sharp and perceptive direction of Michael J Darton. The whole's artfully lit by Phil Hunter.
Cast Credits (alpha order):
Wayne Cleworth (Brett). Dominique Gerrard (Cailin, Holly). Hugh Jones (Jack). Dominic Kelly (Chris). David Vaughan Knight (Randall). Peter Malone (Drake). Naomi Robinson (Maxine). Richard Thomas (Lee).
Company Credits: Director - Michael J Darton. Writer - Ethan Kanfer. Lighting Designer - Phil Hunter. Company - JuST Theatre Company. Thanks to: Trevor Brown. Jermyn Street Theatre - Howard Jameson, Artistic Director Penny Horner.
END
John Park
reviewed Tuesday 2 December 03 / Jermyn Street Theatre.
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
