☆☆★★★ Who They Were
As a writer Luke Culloty is clearly a man with no paucity of
clever concepts and ideas. In his new play, Who They Were, which he also
directs at Camden’s Etcetera Theatre for Split Note Theatre, has a window of
opportunity of nearly of 100 years to explore.
Shamelessly quoting the short and snappy synopsis, ‘Two immortal
women, come back together one hundred years after their relationship ended.
They must confront the times then and now. What they were and who they are now.’
With a lot of scope here, Culloty explores it with verve and undoubted vigour
as there is no lack of potential opportunity for dialogue in the open-ended
set-up.
Whether it is fair to explore the concept further without
spoilers is doubtful. But it is wholly reasonable to say the small, taut and
unyielding ensemble are breathlessly and relentlessly on point throughout. As a
company, Lucy Abraham as Eros, Adela Rajnović as Florence and Ruby Herrington
as Joe are laudable exponents of Culloty’s dialogue. And it is fulsome,
unyielding and undoubtedly multi-faceted. Concepts such as dementia, economic
cuts, depression and even identifying as a post-box or pasty white vegans are
amongst some of notions that the centenarians explore as doubtlessly alien concepts.
Whilst exploring the dramatic potential of the piece, Culloty has also written
some very funny laugh-out-loud moments.
Who They Were is undoubtedly a piece in its early stages of development.
Thankfully it does not struggle for ideas as it undeniably stuffed full of
cornucopia of sharp, witty and clever inspiration. Whether some of this might
be considered overload is questionable. But I do feel the old maxim by architect
Mies Van der Rohe ‘less is more’ might be pertinent and worthy of thought.
Who They Were plays at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden Town
until 9 November at 7 pm
until 9 November at 7 pm
Tickets available here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/event/who-they-were-written-and-directed-by-luke-culloty/
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