Writer: Joe Eason
Director: Kirsten Obank-Sharpe
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Outstanding“
5 / 5
Evan has grown up in his small town in the deep South of America his whole life and most of the people he grew up with are either dead or in jail. He’s turned his life around after a short stint in prison – working three jobs and staying clean from oxycontin, but when both his violent father and ex-lover / best friend Jimmy come back to town the same weekend – fireworks are guaranteed.
Although Evan (Joe Eason) and Jimmy (Ben Maytham) haven’t seen each other in years, it’s like they’ve never been apart, their connection immediately reigniting and their feelings for each other flooding straight back to the surface. A loving, tender reunion for the pair, but one which isn’t replicated when Evan’s father Caleb (James Burton) bursts back into his life and breaks into his home. This wonderfully written character-centric drama is, to get straight to the point – absolutely outstanding.
The storyline is straightforward enough, half focusing on the romantic story arc between Evan and Jimmy, and half focusing on Evan’s troubled family life that his mother Amy (Nicola Goodchild) is desperate to repair, despite her ongoing addiction issues. Each character is well established and strongly developed, with each of them having clear, realistic backstories and motivations, allowing the audience to quickly connect to them. Eason is a fantastic playwright (and composer / actor) who has clearly put a lot of thought into the character development and story structure. The show is paced perfectly to extract maximum tension and chemistry – with some suspense ridden scenes that have the audience literally on the edge of their seats.
Director Kirsten Obank-Sharpe provides impeccably entrancing, melodic vocals as part of the three-piece band on stage, with a folksy, country style score. Elizabeth Cleone Hopland (cello) and Cam Southcott (violin) create the hauntingly beautiful background that works perfectly alongside the script. The soundtrack helps to elevates the entire production and add an extra atmospheric layer that embeds into the show seamlessly.
The cast are all hugely talented – Eason and Maytham have great chemistry to make their love story endearing and believable, while also portraying the emotion and heartache that is experienced through their small-town, queer relationship. Burton and Goodchild are excellent in their roles as the messy, problematic parental figures – wonderful energy, extremely realistic and with fantastic accents. Hannelore Canessa-Wright only has a small part as the local law enforcement, but her presence is humorous and memorable, adding a comedic, light element to the otherwise conflict-ridden show. The audience are so invested in the story and the characters, that when the 90 minutes is up, it still leaves you wanting more from this passionately written, poignantly performed production.
With every box from script, music, direction and acting getting a huge tick, it’s hard not to be completely enamoured by this fantastic show.
Runs Until 18th August 2024
RatedReviewed 