'Before it Rains,' is a powerful play written by Katherine Chandler and directed by Roisin McBrinn. It is a Sherman Cymru and Bristol Old Vic co-production. Set on an allotment and in the woods behind a tough Cardiff housing estate, it explores the relationships between an alcoholic, protective Mum, her autistic son and his street-wise, bullying friend. The violence we are told is occuring off stage creates tension on stage, slowly building, and erupting into a cataclysmic and explosive ending; in efforts to protect her son, the Mum provokes the wild friend (abused by his sadistic father) to take his own life. The event is truly shocking.
The cast of Lisa Palfrey, Craig Gazey and Harry Ferrier gave really convincing performances. The language felt authentic, but at times the script fell into 'telling rather showing' and there were some speeches that felt a bit too long. The set, designed by Alyson Cummins- a mound of earth, dug and re-dug by the autistic son, with pillars of the estate underpass doubling as trees in the woods, and ropes for branches, worked well and provided an evocative atmosphere. Pity the seating in Theatre 2 hasn't been updated with the rest of the building. Sitting for an hour and a half on a hard chair isn't great for one's concentration.
The play is on until the 6th of October at the Sherman. Under 25s are half price.
No comments:
Post a Comment