The Hidden Review: After all these years - Theatre Review

THR has watched After All These Years at The Jermyn Street Theatre. The play, written by Giles Cole, won the Outstanding Theatre Award at The Brighton Fringe.

All These Years is a play divided into three acts and tells the story of relationships between two couples, now residing in a seaside town, as they reminisce over their lives and friendships over the years.

Moreover, starring four seasoned actors, Jeffery Holland (best known from TV’s ‘Hi-De-Hi’), Judy Buxton, Carol Ball, and Graham Poutney (who also directs), all at the top of their games and very much at home on stage.

Throughout the play, the characters had known each other for quite some time and were all in show business at one point.

Act 1 reflects on the two male friends, Alfred and Charlie, in a local pub and shows a fantastic bond between them as they banter about their lives and the woes of getting older.

Then the following acts play out with the two women, taking place in one of their homes after a swift set change, culminating in Act 3 two years later.

Furthermore, the dialogue is witty and sparkles as the characters look back over their lives and wonder whether they took the right decisions and risks to get where they are now.

The writing is very clever as it never goes into pastiche which keeps high audience engagement and anticipates what will happen next as secrets and revelations reveal themselves while changing the dynamics of their friendships for good.

Jeffrey Holland is outstanding as Alfred, as he plays out with great comic timing the despair of memory loss, and by the third Act, suffers a stroke, a delicate and moving performance.

At the same time, Judy Buxton gives a stunning performance by having hilarious lines and plays the dramatic tension with great intelligence.
Carol Ball's performance is terrific, and her revelation is touching and sensitive.
Furthermore, Graham Poutney plays a significant role in acting and directing while playing the former ladies man with much humour.

Overall, this bittersweet comedy full of themes is about getting older, love, and regret as well as acknowledging that it's never too late to make changes.

Hidden Fire stars 8/10 ⭐️

Review written by Tino Orsini

© 2023 The Hidden Review

The Hidden Review: Love is Blue - Theatre Review

 

The THR has watched Love is Blue playing at The Drayton Arms Theatre from July 20th-22nd, just before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe. This two-hander, part of four plays produced by LAMBCO Productions, is about an unlikely encounter between a slick city trader and a young man who is homeless and he helps out by inviting him back to his loft apartment for a shower and some food.

The two leads are very engaging as they explore their new-found understanding of each other’s pasts;

Olly is an older man who is quite a drinker as he is grieving for his late boyfriend. The more introspective and somewhat naive younger man reveals his childhood trauma of being abandoned at six months old and adopted by a religious family.

Furthermore, the director Prav MJ follows a stylish direction as it takes us on an emotional roller coaster journey. The characters live out their attraction to each other and reveal, more and more, a respective pain blossoming into a friendship.

At the same time, the songs used throughout the play increase the technology aspect of the setting as Olly uses his Alexa device to play music that reminds him of the time he spent with his partner in New York.

They both find a bonding relationship by singing beautifully in unexpected ways, and the story reveals a fascinating turn when Olly tries to kiss Aaron.

Don Cotter’s script is superb as he draws out some beautiful moments while the pace increases engagement.

Andrew Ewart plays beautifully a younger character reflecting a street-wise and introspective characterization showing a delicate nuance and vulnerability.

Moreover, Sam Walter plays Olly, who performs his role with vigour and, at the same time, with great delicacy as he sometimes breaks the fourth wall while speaking to his dead lover;

However, he is moving as he deals with his loss, delivering a speech at his boyfriend’s memorial that is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Overall, this play is a great and original piece of theatre.

Hidden Fire stars 8/10 ⭐️

Review written by Tino Orsini

© 2023 The Hidden Review