Tag Archives: Park Theatre

And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You – 4 Stars

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And Before I Forget

And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You

Park Theatre

Reviewed – 28th October 2018

★★★★

“a bold concept but, sticking closely to reality, Utton avoids it becoming too tragic or too comic”

 

Better known for his monologues in which he gets under the skin of famous historical figures – Adolf, Churchill, Dickens, Maggie – Pip Utton’s latest piece is on a more personal note. From first-hand experience of his mother’s decline and death, he creates a character to illustrate the harrowing effects of Alzeimer’s both on sufferers and carers, balancing the horror and pain of deterioration with moments of humour and lightness. ‘And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You’ tells the story of a family struck by the disease, in which Michael’s (Pip Utton) account encompasses the many contradictory emotions felt as loved ones disappear long before they die.

Cleverly structured with recurring events and varied formats of expression, Utton’s writing guides us through the stages and consequences of Alzheimer’s through Michael’s experiences. His wonderful performance swings between comfort and unease, his expressive face portraying warmth, animosity, anxiety and despair. And he breaks the fourth wall, involving the audience in key episodes in Michael’s life and challenging them to face the frustration and anger which gradually seeps in. To top it all, the ending is a perfect balance of the inevitable and the unexpected.

The stage is set with two simple areas representing home and hospital. In one corner a vertical construction could be interpreted as the broken path of memory sweeping upward towards a mind of unlit lights. It is, in fact, from the theatre’s current production of Honour! Sensitively designed lighting follows Michael from place to place, transforming the scenes and moods; helplessness and fear is evoked and emphasised by the passive insistence from the hospital soundtrack and telephone.

A drama about Alzeimer’s is a bold concept but, sticking closely to reality, Utton avoids it becoming too tragic or too comic. He gives us serious food for thought without it being bleak, moving moments without resorting to the over-sentimental and touches of wit to make us smile. It is an hour to enjoy and then reflect on.

 

Reviewed by Joanna Hetherington

 


And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You

Park Theatre

 

SIT-Up Sunday also included:
Dangerous Giant Animals | ★★★ | October 2018

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

 

Dangerous Giant Animals – 3 Stars

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Dangerous Giant Animals

Dangerous Giant Animals

Park Theatre

Reviewed – 28th October 2018

★★★

“Murdock’s writing shines for the majority of the show – it’s beautifully human and relatable”

 

It is always exciting when a play gives voice to a rarely heard story. This is one of them; exploring the difficulties of being a sibling carer. However, Dangerous Giant Animals is also the story of a play that sabotages its exceptional beginning and middle with a bafflingly smug ending.

We see Christina Murdock (who also wrote the play) travel through a series of snapshot journeys as Clare, who grew up having to care for her disabled sister, from ages seven to seventeen. The effects on Clare’s family life and education are tumultuous as she tries to balance providing adequate care for her sister, while also having to overcome her guilt for having to make choices that will benefit her life. Murdock’s performance is masterful, as she paints the world before her eyes with staggering clarity and simplicity, while still conveying the complexities of her situation. This is aided by the smart design of the set (Anna Lewis), sound (Nicola Chang), and lighting (David Doyle) that all layer on generous helpings of atmosphere and meaning without ever feeling intrusive.

Murdock’s writing shines for the majority of the show – it’s beautifully human and relatable, and consistently harnesses the drama in the domesticity of any situation. The middle of the show in particular features a string of breathless sequences featuring Clare on a heart-breaking car journey, and later trying to calm down her sister. However, directly following this, Dangerous Giant Animals undermines all the stellar work it had done thus far.

All momentum is ground to a halt as the play feels the need to directly address the audience, condescending them for assuming the plot was going in a particular direction (although given the script makes no prior allusion that this direction was a possibility, it’s a pretty baseless accusation). The show then congratulates itself on being smart and subversive, which feels totally misguided and is deeply disappointing to watch. In the space of a minute, Dangerous Giant Animals descends from having the audience in the palm of its hand to antagonising them for no logical reason. This was a huge misstep on the part of Murdock as well as co-directors Jessica Lazar and Adriana Moore, that consequently makes the remainder of the show simply feel pretentious and self-indulgent.

Dangerous Giant Animals is mostly a touching and insightful deep-dive into an important issue, that’s capped off by a frustrating end that vilifies its audience. I sincerely hope that alterations are made before the show transfers to the Tristan Bates Theatre that will bring a more consistent level of quality, and do justice to the story being told.

 

Reviewed by Tom Francis

 


Dangerous Giant Animals

Park Theatre

 

SIT-Up Sunday also included:
And Before I Forget I Love you, I Love you | ★★★★ | October 2018

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com