Cordelia O'Neill's play sensitively directed by Jamie Harris, assisted by Sarah Elliott is a challenging pick for Louth Playgoers to perform. Nevertheless, it is a must-see production, dealing with an important, often unspoken issue that is stillbirth and neonatal death. Not the most commercially appealing of topics but powerfully presented here as a fantastic two-hander play. There is no doubting that it is a tough watch at times but it is not without warmth and humour. There are moments where you can chuckle at the quips and very natural dialogue, expertly delivered - and seconds later find your heart breaking, This is not an easy task to pull off successfully but something which this cast and crew have achieved with great charm and skill.
It tells the story of a young couple, Alex is a free-spirited, devil-may-care girl who refuses to treat life too seriously at first when she meets the uptight and emotionally repressed Rupert. The two seem far from suitable partners when they first meet on public transport, but after a shaky start, their chemistry begins to kick in and a date is arranged. Gradually, the two become more than friends attracted to each other and become something of an odd-couple as they move in together and Alex becomes pregnant. The couple begin to realise how expensive it is to bring a child into the world but make the necessary sacrifices to adjust their limited finances to pay for the new nursery and suchlike as they ready for the birth. As we approach the end of Act One, disaster strikes and the couple's dream is shattered. Act Two opens with Alex refusing to come to terms with their loss and the tension becomes friction, tearing the couple apart and testing the limits of their love and their relationship.
It would be easy to write the golden happy ending for this couple in order to allow them to live happily-ever-after. But life isn't like that and it would be a cop out when dealing with such an emotionally taxing subject that deserves to have a light shone upon it to paint a faithful picture. Losing a child is not something that can be resolved in a heartbeat and should not be portrayed as something easy to move beyond where the couple simply "get over it" and carry on regardless. This play does not condescend to the audience and is true to life. Prepare to be moved deeply and, I suspect, be prepared to launch into an argument over which partner handles the grief better. I suspect it may divide strongly on gender lines though I may well be wrong.
This production has two casts in one, 26 year-old Abbie Johnson makes her debut at Louth's Riverhead Theatre. Regrettably, I did not see Abbie's performance at the rehearsal I attended, which is a real shame as I recently saw Abbie perform in Acting Lincs' showcase "Unchained" in which her strong performance made a real impact. I have no doubt that she will handle this role superbly and would encourage people to see her take on her first major role.
In the rehearsal I attended, I saw the immensely talented Sophie Burgess playing Alex. I know Sophie's work in musical theatre and am always impressed but to see her performing such a strong dramatic role was quite breathtaking. I will admit, I bristled against Alex as a character and felt her brash, privileged background screamed "spoiled brat" to me throughout. Here, I saw a girl who has been indulged in her life, using her confidence and outspoken nature to push for everything she wanted, but I KNOW that others will read teh character very differently. That is the beauty of this play; if I were to watch it again I think I may well see a different side to the character. Sophie made Alex come to life in a rounded and deeply emotive performance that pushed her talents way out of her comfort zone and successfully gives this play her all.
In both casts, the role of Rupert is portrayed by Philip Marshall Junior, someone again better known for his comedic skills, who will surprise the audience with his range and emotional interpretation of the character, as he unpeels the layers of a complex introverted "nice guy" who is too nice to the point of being rather wet and uninspiring to begin with. Rupert is easily manipulated and his wide-eyed naivety at the outset leaves you wondering why a firecracker like Alex would ever want to go on a date with him, but they do say that opposites attract. His journey in the play is remarkable and Philip Marshall Junior unpeels the layers of his personality growing as a character through grief. It is a skillful portrayal and deserves to be seen and appreciated by as large an audience as possible.
The same is true of this play as a whole, it is not a play to be enjoyed but is most certainly a play to be appreciated and is one not to miss. It is being presented in conjunction with the local branch of SANDS (the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity) which will be present to discuss any concerns or issues that audience members may feel this show raises and to offer support to any who may need help. It cannot be stressed highly enough that this company have produced a play of the highest calibre and to present these issues in such an open and accessible way succeeds in raising awareness, consideration and support is to be applauded and I hope their efforts VIGOROUSLY supported when the play opens on Monday at Louth's Riverhead Theatre.
Andy Evans 5 October 2024
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