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About Face
Verdict: Smouldering love
Edinburgh 04 - Café Royal - 12:00 noon (45 min)
About Face is 45 minutes of drama about love, with 3 actors (1F 2M).
Jinny McCallister's delightful play glows with bright writing. Mike Miller's perceptive and exhuberant direction produces a sparkling jewel of short drama.
Sam (Paula Benson) is Angus (James Thomas)'s best friend. Angus is gay, alive with new love for Irish writer Daniel (Ryan Early).
But is Daniel fully committed? To him? To being gay? Is Sam committed to being a gay man's confidante - or will the smouldering need for love set the triangle alight?
An imaginatively dressed set - two sets of chairs at either end of a dais, a table set for drinking downstage - creates several spaces for the action. Director Mike Miller makes several more by the way he positions the actors.
At different times there's a street where Angus and Sam flirt for a taxi; a couple of different flats, different rooms in them, and simple encounters not tied to a location.
Off-duty actors remain on-stage, either turned away, or witness to the action, or conducting a separate life. Mike Miller's scenes are often cameos - minute portraits each in their separate frames - each exactly lit. He assembles his stage and action to be exciting and focused - there is, in the most literal sense - never a dull moment: they're all polished bright.
Jinny McCallister's script brims with an exhuberant evocation of love, jealousy, sex - and the speed with which one moves to the other. It's sharp writing without clichés in the words or observation. There's an undescoring compassion - and passion - that delights, and dialogue that sparkles.
Three bright, light and penetrative performances bring this sharp piece of new writing to life.
The beautiful Paula Benson brings Sam sharply to life with all her secret thoughts, contradictions and subtle desires. Ryan Early gives Daniel a care-worn poignancy; his interpretation of Daniel's lack of certainty in his emotions delights. James Thomas endears as Angus; his gifted performance evokes a character determined this time not to make a mess of love.
The play uses music with subtlety to match and counter-point its moods, including: Jules Holland, Ruby Turner, Sade, Millie Jackson, Otis Redding, Chopin; You Can Call Me Miss Johnson; Everything Must Change by Oleta Adams; Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? by Van Morrison.
It's a subtle play - there's a frisky undertone of comedy at life's bitch quality. And perfect at lunchtime for those toying with the idea of an explosive new secret affair.
Cast Credits (alpha order): Paula Benson – Sam. Ryan Early – Daniel. James Thomas – Angus.
Company Credits: Writer – Jinny McCallister. Director – Mike Miller. Company – TheATRE hE mME, mm, mm.
END
John Park
reviewed Wednesday 11 August 04 / Café Royal
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
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