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Bang Out of Order
Verdict: Trying to belong
Edinburgh 06 - C Chambers Street - 14-19 August 06 - 15:15 (0:50)
Bang Out of Order is about anti-social behaviour and its effects - not only on the community around, not only the families, but actually on the participants.
The piece starts with heavy music, and the teenage cast jumping around on the scaffolding that forms the set.
The cast of six sometimes double up, but there's no problem following, as with their hoodies on, they're teenage - without, they're the other players.
New boy at the school Ollie (Michael Mear) is at risk of jail if he gets in trouble. His parents moved to avoid his ASBO causing too many problems. It's hard to tell whether Bethan Frecknall acts his mother with superb feelings of displacement and insecurity - or if the cardigan that she pulls around herself nervously just doesn't fit.
Naturally Ollie is drawn to the tough gang - none with ASBOs themselves, but there's a feeling that's through luck, not judgment. Ollie starts dating Keeley (Charlotte Bath), whose brother AD (Leon Humphreys) is not impressed by this.
The piece covers issues of trying to belong, not dropping friends in it, and how half-truth can be as bad as lying - all from the teenage, emotions-running-high standpoint. The main issue, though, is heavy peer pressure.
AD pushes Ollie into a getting into trouble, with standard teen boy bravado. Naturally, when AD gets hurt, Ollie tries to shift the blame. This is the crux of the piece, and too long coming, with too little said afterwards.
After a row, Keeley steals Ollie's knife to 'sort out' neighbour Mr Harris, who she blames for AD's injury. Why isn't clear - she only steals the knife after working out that Ollie was more involved there than he initially said.
Shaun Gadridge's feisty Mr Harris tries to fight Keeley, Ollie tries to dive in to the rescue, and as with all 'someone has a knife' scenes ever, the blade has to end up in someone - in this case Keeley.
The cast do plenty of justice to the youthful characters, but struggle to make the older ones quite as solid. It's a trivial detail, but Gemma Aked-Priestley's braces work well on Stacey - not on harrassed pensioner Mrs Harris.
Most ironic moment goes to playing Pink Floyd's 'We don't need no education' - an anthem of youth, perhaps, but probably this lot's parents' youth.
In all, even David Cameron might be challenged to want to hug these hoodies early on, but it wouldn't hurt him to go and see this portrayal of the experience through teen eyes.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Stacey / Mrs Harris - Gemma Aked-Priestly. Keeley - Charlotte Bath. Steph / Ollie's Mum - Bethan Frecknall. Mouse / Mr Harris / Teacher - Shaun Gadridge. AD / Ollie's dad - Leon Humphreys. Ollie - Michael Mears.
Company Credits: Directors - Johnny Carrington, Danny Sturrock. Lighting, Multimedia, Poster, Programme Design - Danny Sturrock. Lighting Operation, Sound, Multimedia - Aaron Dadd, Danny Sturrock. Company - Oaklands AP.
END
(c) Gill Smith 2006
reviewed Wednesday 16 August 06 / C Chambers Street
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2009
