______
14 November 2024
______
2**
______
The story of a young woman’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is presented by Carbon Theatre and takes the audience through the early signs, the physical, emotional and mental challenges this condition presents. The show, presented by three young women is packed with information and the viewer will learn a considerable amount; it is a condition I am not unacquainted with.
Presented with minimal props and costumes, but with a video wall which surtitles the script and offers an ever-changing backdrop to proceedings, there is a lightness of touch to the play, despite the serious subject matter. The three performers are jolly, earnest and likeable and each perform aspects of the same central character (the author Rae Mainwaring) as well as other roles as required.
So, there is no issue with the subject; chronic illness is not a headline-grabbing matter which will get bums on seats and this is an entirely worthy production in that sense, but on a number of theatrical levels, it falls short.
The Barnfield is not a kind theatre; the acoustics do leave something to be desired and straining to hear the words of the script is always a challenge for the audience, the use of surtitles helps, but every look away from the action to read is a detraction from the play. Why were microphones used only sparingly? Why not all the time? It would have been ideal. As it is, engagement with the audience is made incredibly tough to achieve. With only a very modest sized audience, this just didn’t feel like the right venue for an intimate play, it felt like it was performed in a vacuum.
The attempts of comedy in the script fail to ignite laughter and fall flat; it isn’t funny enough. The tone throughout is playful and light which, though admirable in some respects, dilutes the many darker aspects which are not dark enough. Playing the story out on one level results in failure to engage to emotions of the audience at all. It is too bland. There are some incredibly important aspects to this play, but the presentation of it doesn’t make the most of them.
Lauren Foster, Aimee Berwick and Natallia Bulynia are very game and throw themselves into the show but they are unable to ignite it.
A well-meaning production and one which tackles a really important subject matter which reaches out to the audience but doesn’t grab it.
_____
Cast
Lauren Foster
Aimee Berwick
Natallia Bulynia
Creatives
Writer – Rae Mainwaring
Director – Tessa Walker
Photo Credit – Graeme Braidwood
