To Be Continued... by Danny Start
Photograph of Danny Start
Peter Street reviews a script-in-hand performance at the Bolton Octagon March 2007.
In front of us are just half a dozen chairs, and a black curtain and that's it. This is a script reading-event, a tester to see if To Be Continued… works. This has been organised by North West Playwrights as part of their prize winning system leading to a full running production at the Octagon Theatre Bolton. There had been other plays in the running this was the last in a run of three. I have not seen or know anything about the other two productions - but here goes.
The set is simple with just a few chairs and there are six actors each holding a script. To Be Continued… is about emotion, memory and loss in which three of the characters try to come to terms with disability, and with each other.
It is also about a kind of bereavement and all the stress and anger that comes along when mourning a once fit and healthy body. The play opens with Julia sitting centre stage as though she is in a wheel chair. Legs together, and she complains loudly how she feels like a baby outside the shop in her wheelchair - her pram - as she also complains about the patronising looks she gets from fellow shoppers.
To be Continued… is ultimately about truth that confronts the many issues and discriminations surrounding the mysteries connecting mental health and epilepsy. Julia's friends are mortified when they discover that her new friend David, besides having a mental health problem also suffers with epilepsy. The thought of their friend being taken/pushed out in her pram with someone with serious head problems is far too much for them to handle - so they freak big time.
The pace was about right with probably taking about 1˝ hours when fully acted out. I also liked how it didn't hang about waiting for us to somehow feel sorry for any of the characters and the trauma they were going through.
The actors did a good job of the play. They made it feel real. They made it feel like a real play. They did their job in both entertaining and informing. But Julia (Victoria Brazier) was the one who stole the show. She convinced me she was a newly disabled person and with all the anger and frustration that follows. I felt that David and his various face pulls somehow tried to look like he had epilepsy and some mental health problem; maybe he tried too hard - I don't know. His performance wasn't bad it was just Julia who was just so good.
I thought in these days of political correctness it would be unusual for able-bodied actors to play the parts of disabled characters. I didn't think this sort of thing happened anymore. But it does. It did tonight in a play that was screaming for the main part to be played by someone who is disabled. Perhaps when it's produced on stage as a full play and not just a script reading the characters mentioned will be played by disabled actors - I hope so.
To Be Continued… is a play for all those who are care for humanity and everything human.
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Danny Start (danny[at]disinfo.net) said on 2007-05-16 09:08:
Thanks Peter. But I wouldn't want anyone to think the character of David is written/ portrayed as having mental health issues - it certainly wasn't my intention. Otherwise, enjoyed the review and...
'To Be Continued...' has won North West Playwrights 'Striking Silver' competition and will be performed in the North West next spring... For more details go to: http://www.newplaysnw.co.uk/
frances passman (frances.passman3[at]ntlworld.com) said on 2007-05-26 09:13:
It's unusual to find a play which is based on disability, which is not patronising. It's unusual to find a play which is based on disability but which has very real tragic and comic touches.
It was astonishing to me to find that such a play can so accurately portray how memory works.
At the same time I was completely caught up in the stories of the individual characters. Very convincing writing and acting - even though it was just a read through.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the full production. Congratulations on your success!
last updated: 2007-05-08 18:12:46
More by this author : Peter Street: As the crow flies Peter Street Memories of the Disability Action Network
tags : theatre