KINDLE – Exeter Phoenix


15 April 2023

3***

‘KINDLE’ by Hattie Collins takes on some big subject matters; global energy, renewables,  death, mental health, family relationships, debt, fossil fuels….. the list goes on.

Angela runs a remote petrol station which is in financial difficulty. Her daughters, Holly and Heather are polar opposites in views and lifestyle and have a varyingly tricksy relationship with their Mother. Tensions between all three simmer throughout and the death of Angela during a fire at the garage causes even more issues, before, some time in the future, Holly and Heather reach some resolution.

Starting off with some choreographed movement, the three actors tell the story passing back and forth in time and structurally it works well. The issues covered are made clear, but, thankfully, without ramming them down the viewers throats; they are intelligently explored.

A very simple set is all that is needed; a large petrol pump which transforms to a shop is extremely convincing and effectively designed. Throughout, an excellent soundscape – created by Rowan Evans –  offers atmosphere just at the right time and lighting is subtly suggestive.

I am not sure whether the spraycan grafitti was meant to be seen by the audience, but only the front row would ever have known what was written – a small point, but maybe something needing to be addressed.

The pace of the production is curiously on one-level and even in a short running time, there must be room for a little more variation – at times it all felt a little pedestrian. The scene/costume changes, though discreetly executed, provide a few too many longueurs to the play.

I often have a bit of a beef about the volume of voices and here too, on a few occasions, speeches drop below a level of expected audibility, even in a small studio theatre. I am sure the actors do care about the words, but sometimes it feels that the audience is trying to listen in on a private conversation.

The cast work well together and, certainly, when the emotions start to take hold, there is far more of a connection with the audience. Joanne Rogers convinces as Angela and her downwards spiral is effecting. Hattie Collins and Sally Geake play off each other well and their movement from alienating each other to a truce works well.

As stated, Hattie Collins’ script encompasses many themes, maybe there are too many to do justice to in this short piece, but it is thought provoking and extremely relevant.

‘Kindle’ has had an interesting development process and Almanac Theatre are to be congratulated on expanding the themes of the play in a number of different ways in the future.


CAST & CREATIVES

Holly – Hattie Collins

Angela – Joanne Rogers

Heather – Sally Geake


Written by – Hattie Collins

Directed by Rachael Walsh

Sound Design – Rowan Evans

Set Consultant – Fi Russell

Technical Stage Manager – Hannah Brooks

An Almanac Theatre Production

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