☆★★★★ Karaoke Play
I write this
review after the last night of Annie Jenkins' play Karaoke Play at the Bunker
Theatre. Producers EJ Martin and Philip Honeywell's Pluck Productions have
cleverly piggybacked this superb production onto the back of We Anchor In Hope's
mega-realistic pub set by Zoe Hurwitz. Sadly only running for six performances,
I am confident it will be back!
As the
audience, we are part of the Saturday night crowd at Barry's karaoke bar,
Barryoke. Darren (Philip Honeywell) and Perri (Lucy Bromilow) work behind the
bar and enjoy a confused, multi-level friendship. Regulars Kelly (Jackie
Pulford) and Linford (Christopher Jenner-Cole) are awaiting their call to the
stage to sing. We begin to discover their hopes, aspirations, futures in a
confused yet supremely nuanced exposition of identity, recognition and love,
through the dubious joy of karaoke.
Told in the
form of a series of intermixed and ultimately entwined monologues, these
gorgeously crafted vignettes by Annie Jenkins are breathtakingly brought to
life by undoubted tour de force performances from an elite acting ensemble at
their best.
Honeywell's Darren oozes assured yet frightening, even menacing
cockiness as he indulges in random sex acts as voyeuristic pleasure, and a perverse reward
mechanism. Bromilow's Perri strangely hypnotic rendition of the national anthem
is fascinating to watch in its sinewy detail, as is her entire
sexually-charged, confused obsession with Darren. Jenner-Cole's gentler
realisation of Linford is the perfect balance to the seemingly voyeuristic
mayhem going on around him as his obsession with Kelly unfolds. Pulford's Kelly
– just like Adele or Prince - is the epitome of vulnerability, beautifully
realised in a heart wrenching, original, smart and exceptional performance. And her rendition of Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time is a joy!
These
characters are the salt of the earth, even in this reduced salt
society!
Director
Lucy Grace McCann has dexterously interwoven the linked, yet separate,
scenarios between these complex, layered characters and their stories. Karaoke
Play is beautifully crafted and realised and without a doubt deserves, and must
have, a further incarnation – and soon!
CAST
Philip Honeywell as Darren
Lucy Bromilow as Perri
Christopher Jenner-Cole as Linford
Jackie Pulford as Kelly
Philip Honeywell as Darren
Lucy Bromilow as Perri
Christopher Jenner-Cole as Linford
Jackie Pulford as Kelly
Directed by Lucy Grace McCann
Written by Annie Jenkins
Written by Annie Jenkins
Assistant Director - Jamie Woods
Lighting Designer - Charli Hurford
Sound Designer - James Hunter
Stage Manager - Ricky McFadden
Produced by pluck.productions
Lighting Designer - Charli Hurford
Sound Designer - James Hunter
Stage Manager - Ricky McFadden
Produced by pluck.productions
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