PORT CITY SIGNATURE at the Hope Theatre

★★★½

“a riveting, exciting watch”

Port City Signature by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller is a Noir-styled suspense story centred around the arrival of the naïve Newcomer into the local public house after having missed her train home. The mistrustful Regular and his sex-working partner-in-crime, Lady (Katherine Lea), coax Newcomer into executing a shady deed for them, to help alleviate the targeted extortion they have been subject to from Sheriff, the local, corrupt law enforcer. Will she be able to follow through? Will things get out of hand? Only one way to find out.

The opening of the piece was given space and significance, with the space not always being as alive as it could have been. Set designer Hannah Williams did a marvellous job of creating a dark, dingy boozer that breathed dank ambience into the audience. Although they took their time, the actors initiated some interest in, and raised questions about the characters; somewhat, grabbing the attention of the audience, although not locking them into engagement, even though the story was being told clearly.

This could have been aided by more elaborate and interesting lighting and sound choices, helping the actors truly lean into the Noir style. It would’ve served the actors well to find the lightness and humour in the language and to have fully trusted the well written script of Brimmer-Beller to create the suspense for them.

However, with the pressures of the train arriving and the need for its loud, disguising rattle along the line, the suspense of the piece began to ignite. The given circumstances being expressed well by the trio on stage. The well-found and unshakeable nonchalance of Regular (Paddy Echlin) beginning to slip under the anxiety of the situation.

The capturing entrance of the callous and sinister Sheriff (David Carter) boosted and served the urgency of the scene and, in the first act’s climax, light, sound and performance blended together brilliantly in a crescendo of action. There was some good directorial craftwork and choices from Brimmer-Beller and Phoebe Rowell John, particularly with their choice for regular shootout style triangles, that gave the characters chance to fire their suspicions at each other, while revealing their inner life to the audience. The payoff from the slow build was good and the stakes of the piece were now being truly felt as the power shifted seamlessly into the hands of the unassuming Newcomer (Meg Clarke) who relished the opportunity and led the play ruthlessly to its ending. An unforeseen final twist made the audience feel abashed at having assumed all was what it seemed.

Everyone is a suspect in Port City Signature, with no loyalty between the untrustworthy characters and all ties between them being transactional. After an overly-measured start, the play built and built and built, finding its feet and made for a riveting, exciting watch.

PORT CITY SIGNATURE

★★★½

Hope Theatre

PORT CITY SIGNATURE at the Hope Theatre

★★★½

“a riveting, exciting watch”