home
|
about
|
news
|
contents
|
gossip
|
photographs
|
venues
|
brighton
|
dublin
|
edinburgh
|
film
|
features
|
interviews
|
awards
|
fashion
|
recipes
|
drinks Monday 6 July 09
|
newsletter
|
links
|
contact
Wasted
Verdict: End of murderer
Edinburgh 06 - Pleasance Dome - 2-28 August 06 - 18:55 (1:15)
Wasted is about Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, the ‘Moors Murderers’, who killed five children aged between 10 and 17 - Pauline Reade (16), John Kilbride (12), Keith Bennett (12), Lesley Ann Downey (10), Edward Evans (17) - in 1963 to 1965, and buried their bodies on moorland near Manchester, England. They were arrested when Hindley’s brother-in-law, David Smith, recruited to join the killings, reported them to police.
A newsreader (Caroline Garvey) reports Hindley's death. In her cell in older age, Hindley tells of her love for Brady (Morgan Thomas) - the only man she knew with clean finger-nails.
The stage uses four main areas, simply defined by lighting changes. There is a newsroom, cell, courtroom and Young Hindley and Brady's living room. The action moves smoothly between them as Old Hindley comments on her past and present.
Snippets of what was said when they were arrested, the court case and David Smith's (Steven Clarke) involvement, blend uneasily together. James Fitzroy-Herbert QC (Henry Filloux-Bennett) is cool and analytical in his questioning, and a very believable character. Brady is portrayed as having a mad logic that justifies his actions. Young Hindley (Lucy Woolliscroft) is far less of a personality than Old Hindley.
Covering a difficult subject, Wasted is well-researched. It is sometimes too concerned with educating rather than with the drama of the situation. The dissecting of a life is at times coldly clinical. Old Hindley does show her humanity - overhearing a petty criminal saying 'Self pity's a load of shit - so's me life', she thinks ‘Who's she to talk?’. Hindley regrets every day of her life, and knows it is impossible to say sorry often enough. She does not elicit sympathy, but a kind of understanding.
The acting is generally good, though at times it fails to convince. David Smith drunk is not believable. Old Hindley, when she recollects which incidents to share, brings them too quickly to mind, and is briefly less convincing.
The use of music to create atmosphere is very effective especially in the sequence where the infamous tape of the last minutes of Lesley Ann Downey, one of the 10-year-old-children they murdered, is played. It is unexpected and moving.
Overall, Wasted is effective. But with fewer characters, less stating of the obvious, and more focus on Old Hindley’s character, it could be better still.
Cast Credits: (alpha order): Steven Clarke - David Smith/Clerk to the Court. Henry Filloux-Bennett - James Fitzroy-Herbert QC. Caroline Garvey - Newsreader. Gemma Goggin - Myra Hindley in her late 50s. Chloe Masterson - Maureen Smith/Woman PC/Foreman of the Jury. Morgan Thomas - Ian Brady. Lucy Woolliscroft - Myra Hindley in her mid 20s.
Company Credits: Writer/Director - Henry Filloux-Bennet. Musical Direction/Production - Tim Balnaves. Technical Operator - Samantha German. Production Researcher/Assistant - Jessica Elgot. Costumes - Blackout II. Hair/Wigs - Tony Culora/Derek Easton Wigs. Press Representation - Sally Homer, Hob Publicity. Executive Producers - Henry Filloux-Bennett, Samantha German, Joan Lane, Marilyn Lee. Company - Theproductionscompany in association with Wild Thyme Productions.
END
(c) Peter Andrews 2006
reviewed 10 Aug 06 / Pleasance Dome
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2009
www.fringereport.com
