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drinks Monday 2 June 08
DUBLIN ... Colman Higgins describes the scope and history of Dublin Gay Theatre Festival ... and reviews two of its shows ... Down Dangerous Passes Road ... Confessions of A Mormon Boy /// LONDON ... film on now ... La Question Humaine / Heartbeat Detector /// BRIGHTON ... It's on till 26 May and here's at least 20 Things you might want to know about Brighton Fringe /// PEOPLE ... Who was there at Fringe Report's First Monday 5 May - photographs & article /// CULTURE ... One Culture ... film screening 30 May booking now ... details
Tim Key
in
Luke and Stella
Verdict: Tender portrayal of a sensitive man
Luke and Stella is a tender portrayal of a man who is just too sensitive to be one of the lads (writes Ella Lockwood). It’s a one-man show by Tim Key and lasts an hour.
Luke has dressed in baseball-cap and jeans (with the cardboard label still attached) and gone down the boozer to be one of the boys. Unfortunately, he is socially clumsy, unable to stand up for himself and unlucky in love.
Tim Key evokes the busy pub, the fellow drinkers and a barman through mime. He’s a talented physical performer who can seamlessly transform from one character to the next. He clearly defines the physical space between people and surroundings.
When, for example, characters go to the gents, it’s instantly clear that the location has changed – the characters behave differently in the new context. It is easy to suspend disbelief because Tim Key's performance is so meticulous.
The eager-to-please Luke is undeniably worth sympathy. He sticks to ‘full-fat Cokes’ so that he can safely drive everyone home. He's mercilessly bullied into buying endless rounds of Stella for unappreciative friends. He wants to make them laugh. But they've heard all his jokes before – he’s the butt of them. He gives them all cigarettes, leaving an empty packet - and give up his seat to the more dominant members of the group.
One of the most touching moments occurs when Luke casually reveals that one of the gang - Lee - is his little brother. It's shocking to discover, because Lee is one of his tormentors. Such an obvious victim might lose the audience's interest, but Tim Key provides Luke with an enormous amount of hope. For every knock-back, Luke bounces back with another attempt to please.
Hayley, 17, is the object of Luke's affection – ‘beautiful as a mermaid.’ It’s a dangerous attraction – she’s the little sister of Orange Dave and off-limits. Despite her age, she runs rings round Luke. She may have given him her ‘personal phone number’, but Luke gives her his car keys - so she can leave the pub with another man.
Luke’s nemisis, Macca, is a darker character - and the only other figure Tim Key reveals. Macca takes jealous objection to Luke's love for Hayley. The conflict begins.
It's a shame that Macca appears so infrequently, as he provides ample comic opportunity. The show felt a little too long when its conclusion became clear - and would have benefited from another divergence. But Luke & Stella is skilfully-performed and pleasingly original in its format.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Written and performed by Tim Key.
Company Credits: Technical operator - Venue Staff.
END
(c) Ella Lockwood 2004
reviewed 20 July 04 / The Pleasance Stage Space London
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
