Tag Archives: Emily K Neal

Tube

Tube

★★★

Lion and Unicorn Theatre

Tube

Tube

Lion and Unicorn Theatre

Reviewed – 29th January 2020

★★★

 

“a clear portrayal of how relationships develop and intensify and the impact people can have on each other”

 

Two strangers on a tube meet and make conversation when the train comes to a sudden stop. A pretty normal scenario, you would think. You sit there for a few minutes and then you’re on your way again. In this story however, the tube stops and doesn’t move again. Rachel (Michaela Carberry) and “The Man” (George Damms) get to know each other over the course of the play. We see their relationship develop as they learn about each other in an intense, out of the ordinary situation.

“The Man” is a musician and Damms skilfully plays the guitar and sings at various points throughout. This is a nice addition and splits up the scenes effectively. Damms acts well and portrays a character who clearly has more to him than meets the eye and some emotional baggage it would have been interesting to find out more about. Carberry as Michaela is engaging to watch and shows good emotional range throughout her character’s ups and downs.

The set leaves quite a bit to the imagination, but a tube carriage is clearly conveyed by two “windows” at the back of the space with authentic signs you would find in a real carriage. The set space is also clearly marked by fluorescent tape, within which all the action takes place. This is an effective touch and could be said to help create the claustrophobic feeling you would experience if stuck inside a tube carriage for a prolonged period of time.

Joe Kerry (writer) has included modern references and relatable circumstances, such as Rachel’s uncertainty in her move to London to kick-start a career, making Tube relevant to audiences today. The two actors have received good direction from Bobby Standley but there is the danger, if sat at the side, that audience members may sometimes miss lines and facial expressions.

Tube is a clear portrayal of how relationships develop and intensify and the impact people can have on each other. In an un-naturalistic scenario, naturalistic themes are explored alongside a range of human emotion. Some scenes feel a bit disjointed, but a few twists and turns as well as music means we are kept engaged for the most part.

 

Reviewed by Emily K Neal

 


Tube

Lion and Unicorn Theatre

 

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
Like You Hate Me | ★★★ | April 2019
Mama G’s Story Time Roadshow | ★★★★★ | May 2019
River In The Sky | ★★½ | May 2019
Euan | ★★★★ | July 2019
A Shoddy Detective & The Art Of Deception | ★★ | August 2019
Blue Tights, Red Knickers And An ‘S’ On Her Vest | ★★★ | August 2019
Camp | ★★★ | August 2019
The Death Of Ivan Ilyich | ★★ | August 2019
Up The Bunty! | ★★★ | December 2019
Julius Caesar | ★★½ | January 2020

 

Click here to see our most recent reviews

 

Blood Orange

★★★★

Old Red Lion Theatre

Blood Orange

Blood Orange

Old Red Lion Theatre

Reviewed – 12th December 2019

★★★★

 

“This is a play that will move you as well as warm your heart this Christmas”

 

When you think of theatre during the festive season, a play about a junior doctor’s experiences around this time of year may not be one of the first things that comes to mind. Tania Amsel has written, and is the sole performer in, Blood Orange, which centres around Amy as she works in Swansea A&E on Christmas Eve.

Amy has been out for drinks with her colleagues the night before which ended with her vomiting over the shoes of a surgeon she is clearly in awe of. She then has to deal with the shame of this the next day, whilst seeing to an array of patients including a man dressed as Santa who quite literally got stuck in a chimney. Here, it’s not hard to feel empathy for Amy, whilst laughing at some of the situations she finds herself in.

One patient, a young boy with cancer, strikes a chord with Amy and we see her enter into a mild panic, but it isn’t clear why at this point. With time, we learn that this particular patient has brought back childhood memories, with a trip to London for an interview at Great Ormond Street Hospital only strengthening her flashbacks.

Throughout the piece, lighting (Jamie Platt) and sound (Tingying Dong) prove highly effective. Everything from sounds of the hustle and bustle of a busy Oxford Circus to the intense lighting design when Amy is having flashbacks means we can engage well with the story.

On the subject of engaging well with the story, Tania Amsel’s performance style means we can do this without difficulty. She directly addresses the audience with ease, allowing us to connect with Amy and her experiences. It’s always interesting to see how one man/woman shows are delivered and Amsel’s energy and likability is proof that they can be a success. The fact the set includes only a fold up chair and what resembles the frame of a hospital screen is further testament to Amsel’s ability to consistently engage an audience.

In addition to shining a light on life as a junior doctor in the NHS, Blood Orange highlights what can happen when the pressures of a job become too much and a person’s personal and professional lives collide. Directed by Hamish MacDougall, Amsel has created a likable character and tackles her subject matter with sensitivity, warmth and humour, along with bucket loads of energy. This is a play that will move you as well as warm your heart this Christmas.

 

Reviewed by Emily K Neal

 


Blood Orange

Old Red Lion Theatre until 4th January

 

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
Anomaly | ★★★★ | January 2019
In Search Of Applause | ★★ | February 2019
Circa | ★★★★ | March 2019
Goodnight Mr Spindrift | ★★ | April 2019
Little Potatoes | ★★★ | April 2019
The Noises | ★★★★ | April 2019
Flinch | ★★★ | May 2019
The Knot | ★★★★ | June 2019
Edred, The Vampyre | ★★★½ | October 2019
Last Orders | ★★★ | October 2019

 

Click here to see our most recent reviews