FLY. To 10 July.
Liverpool
FLY
by Katie Douglas
Everyman Theatre To 10 July 2004
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 10 July 2pm
BSL Signed 9 July
Runs 1hr 15min No interval
TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 June
Skilful writing that doesn't quite mark out its own territory.Supporting their revitalised programming, Liverpool's jointly-managed repertory theatres the lively Everyman and stately Playhouse have a Writers on Attachment' scheme, and the Everyman is adventurously producing three plays from attached playwrights. Two follow in autumn; starting them off is a city play that's more Clyde than Mersey side.
Fly shows Katie Douglas to be mistress of the punning title, referring both to the dirty-water urban fishing with which its two 27 year old males try to find peace, and to Frank's clear intention to leave wife Louise and child Callum. Douglas also has a strong command of gritty dialogue and dialect. It isnae hard tae feel the aggro, just as level-headed Sammy feels his friend's fist splitting his lip. Frank's a tight-wrapped bundle of frustrations, taking them out emotionally and through verbal violence on Louise. Only her sharp demands he stops shouting for the child's sake work with him.
But we've seen Frank before the tough nut screwed up inside. And Louise, the resilient family-maker seeing good in the man who's violent towards her though it's clear she's not going on taking it.
And Sammy the sensitive bystander with a liking for Louise, the one she doubtless ought to love but never will. The reasonable man bowled out by someone habit makes him think of as a friend.
There's enough suggestion Frank has a decent core, twisted though he mostly is around it, to keep the play going for its 75 minutes. But the brief scenes indicate the loom of TV's beckoning hand, and Robin Don's set has to accommodate four realistic playing areas on a set which also includes a giant ring marriage, or the circularity of a trapped life, maybe.
Rightly, Matthew Lloyd's production works towards silences and containment in playing-style, maximising implication and letting the finely contrasted actors work through emotional experiences in facial expression and responses. Seeing Eve Dallas use a moment's apparent affection to seek a love declaration and Simon Donaldson chewing over his revulsion at saying those three little words that keep song-lyric writers going so easily, is as gripping as it gets.
Louise: Eve Dallas
Frank: Simon Donaldson
Sammy: David Jenkins
Director: Matthew Lloyd
Designer: Robin Don
Lighting: David W Kidd
Sound: Sean Pritchard
Dramaturg: Suzanne Bell
2004-06-24 20:55:43