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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Break Away
Verdict: Enthralling drama
A 2-hour play with a cast of 5 (2M, 3F).
Barbie-Jean’s G-string rides high above her ever-present builder’s bum. She nervously swats a fly with the Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, and settles down to practise her elocution, like a Scouse Eliza Doolittle. Break Away’s unhurried first half establishes some potentially stereotypical characters.
Corpulent Barbie-Jean (Claire Sundin) desperately competes for men against her comparatively glamorous and very thin best friend Stella (Emily Norman). There are echoes of every once-tubby-teenager’s nightmares.
Profanely vociferous Pauline (Tina Malone) dons tacky tracksuit and furry rabbit slippers - suggesting (and not quietly) one of the Viz's Fat Slags. Sitting together with Barbie-Jean in a pink version of her aunt's blue outfit, they complete the pair.
Kevin (Colin R Campbell), in manual-work gear, is a somewhat dysfunctional and egocentric father. His brother Jake, (Gareth Llewelyn), tracksuited and tidy-haired with a tendency to rebel, concludes this 'typical' Northern group. Excitement over a holiday to Torquay completes the cartoon.
The apparently shallow introduction highlights the strangely rose-tinted gloss belying the play's undercurrents. Interlaced allusions culminate in a shocking climax at the interval - ensuring a captive audience for the second half.
Claire Lovett's strong direction of this first-produced play by intriguing new Liverpool-born writer Dameon Garnett presents a provocative and voyeuristic exploration into how people are judged - by outsiders, by those close to them, and by themselves.
Gavin Owen provides precise, atmospheric lighting. Paul Wills's set is efficiently multi-functional.
Clumsy scene changes with awkward silences are avoided as dimly lit character-movements retain interest and cleverly lead into subsequent action. They echo the fly-on-the-wall appeal of the play.
Emma Laxton’s choice of cheesy dance music is both outwardly amusing and evocative of enforced fun at dodgy discos - reflecting the overlying façade.
Break Away is a smoothly executed and elegant production which enthrals the audience in the nakedly close proximity of the Finborough. It'a a performance of West End quality.
Claire Sundin (Barbie-Jean) and Emily Norman (Stella) effectively grapple with the emotions residing at the heart of every rocky teenage friendship. Colin R Campbell plays a hard-edged Kevin who incites compassion as his character’s true motivations become clear. Tina Malone's Pauline, although seemingly ludicrous at the start, smacks with striking accuracy when a flip-side is revealed during the second half. Gareth Llewelyn is captivating as the reserved Jake, daring the audience to probe deeper and discover just what is truly behind the cold eyes and restrained body language.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Colin R Campbell - Kevin. Gareth Llewelyn - Jake. Tina Malone - Pauline. Emily Norman - Stella. Claire Sundin – Barbie-Jean.
Company Credits: Writer - Dameon Garnett. Director - Claire Lovett. Designer - Paul Wills. Lighting by - Gavin Owen. Sound Design - Emma Laxton. Costumes by - Jackie Orton. Stage Manager - Daniel Staniforth.
END
(c) Holly Davis 2005
reviewed Sunday 20 March 05 / Finborough
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
