“a tighter script, clearer concept, and more character development needed”
Set in a bizarre and darkly comic world, Flycatcher, written and directed by Gregg Masuak, is about lust, deceit and the darkest parts of ourselves. The play centres around Madelaine, a young waitress with a fascination for creepy crawlies, who becomes involved with Bing, an American happy-go-lucky door-to-door insurance salesman and Olive, a stand-offish art gallery owner with a striking resemblance to Grace Kelly.
The actors made the best of an ambitious but ultimately disappointing script. Emily Arden did a particularly good job of portraying the obsessive and conniving Madelaine. Susanna Wolff and Melissa Dalton were impressive – playing a large number of characters from gossipy waitresses with filthy minds, to obnoxious cutesy makeup salespeople, with precision and excellent comic timing. Nathan Plant and Bruce Kitchener also did well playing a multitude of roles. Plant’s physicality in particular was well done and added to the comedy. Kooky grandma Mae, played by Fiz Marcus, was also very funny, though her presence in some scenes often felt unnecessary.
The main issue with Flycatcher was that it felt dated and out of time and place. Bing’s dialogue, clothes, and obsession with Grace Kelly made him a 1950s American caricature. In contrast, other characters used flip phones and a chunky 90s landline rang throughout the show. The setting was also confusing; many of the characters had American accents yet paid for things in pounds. Perhaps these choices were intentional to emphasise the unsettling world of Flycatcher but overall the concept seemed to miss the mark.
The set was simple yet effective. Islington’s intimate Hope Theatre was transformed into a spider’s web by placing white tape on the floor in a web pattern. During the pre-set four characters stood at the edge of the web while Madelaine lay on the floor at the centre, entangled in the dark mess of the story. The piano music which played at the start of both acts added to the sinister atmosphere but more sound design would have been useful in clarifying the setting of scenes, as this was often unclear.
Overall, the performances were strong and there were funny moments but a tighter script, clearer concept, and more character development were needed to make it the dark comic thriller it could be.
The Hope Theatre is delighted to announce their Spring 2018 season featuring a mix of new writing and established work with a 50/50 gender split of writers and containing a world premiere directed by Artistic Director Matthew Parker.
MY GAY BEST FRIEND – 9th to 27th January
2018 gets off to a bang as Louise Jameson (Dr Who, Eastenders) returns to The Hope following her award nominated performance in TWO SHORT PLAYS ABOUT GAYS last year. Louise will appear in the wonderful two-hander MY GAY BEST FRIEND – a heady mixture of high camp, melancholy reflection on friendships and the childhood dramas that haunt us all.
MOMENTS/EMPTY BEDS – 30th January to 17th February
The award winning Pennyworth Productions bring their double bill MOMENTS/EMPTY BEDS to The Hope. In these productions Pennyworth explore modern loneliness, family tension and missed connections. Written by exciting emerging playwright Julia Cranney, these plays are funny, frank and touching in equal measure.
FOUL PAGES – 20th February to 17th March
Our award winning Artistic Director Matthew Parker directs the world premiere of FOUL PAGES by Robin Hooper (ex literary manager of the Royal Court and Paines Plough). A fruity farce full of scandalous secrets, backstage betrayals and lusty liaisons. You think you know your Shakespeare?… Think again! FOUL PAGES is the sixth in-house production from the award winning Hope Theatre team.
OUR BIG LOVE STORY – 20th March to 7th April
5 people’s lives intertwine in OUR BIG LOVE STORY; a tale of faith, prejudice, love and healing looking at radicalisation of young people and the struggle to keep your faith after a traumatic event. Written by Stephanie Silver OUR BIG LOVE STORY is a thought provoking, heartwarming and at funny look at how love, faith and coming together as a society really does make the world go around.
PIG – 10th to 28th April
Completing the spring season is the European Premiere of Tim Luscombe’s PIG; delving into aspects of life that are frequently venal, unpleasant, disturbing and downright tragic, exploring violent sex and sexual violence, punishment, redemption, ownership and sacrifice, selfharm and death-wish, role-play and fantasy, and the eroticism of violence and of HIV-Aids. Directed by Russell Bolam and produced by Nastazja Somers (TORN APART (DISSOLUTION) at The Hope Theatre) and Julia Mucko.
Artistic Director Matthew Parker said:
“I’m super excited by this eclectic new season looking at our lives in different ways and worlds. I’m particularly pleased to have a strong LGBTQ+ showing and a 50/50 split of female and male writers whilst we continue our commitment to the Equity Low Pay No Pay campaign.”
