GIRL WATCHING, Bradley, Birmingham Rep, then Bexhill to 8 March.

Birmingham/Bexhill-on-Sea

GIRL, WATCHING: Jyll Bradley
Birmingham Rep till 15 February (Then De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill 6 – 8 March)
Tkts: 0121 236 4455 Info: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Runs: 2hr 5min One interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 6 February 2003

Gentle, intriguing – a delicate exploration of fragile human beings.A gentle, touching and intriguing play effective in its simplicity because of the strength of its structure.

Anna, a 14 year old birdwatcher, scans the sands of SE England looking for rare breeds. Back at home her parents reminisce about their past. Parents and daughter are linked by a married couple Sybil and David (who loom large and darkly over the play but never appear.) Bradley's play is as delicately balanced as a pair of scales: as the parents' lives unravel on their journey backwards, so Anna's grows as she moves forwards. The play finishes on a note of uncertain hope. Betteridge neatly encapsulates her exploration of the fragile human spirit in the breeding cycle of a pair of rare Kentish Plovers.

This really is a play focusing on characters and text: movement and set are kept to a minimum. There is a danger of the play becoming static particularly as the parents reminisce. But Bradley's carefully observed and witty writing holds your interest and the very fragility of the piece commands your attention.

This tone is exactly caught by the three actors, crucially by Samantha Robinson (Anna). Robinson it totally engaging in her naivete and she has an infectious giggle that smacks of vulnerability. Natasha Betteridge's directorial touch, as light as a feather, has brought the whole touchingly to life.

Anna: Samantha Robinson
Polly: Kathryn Pogson
Wight: Nick Lumley

Director: Natasha Betteridge
Design: Jyll Bradley, Natasha Betteridge
Lighting: Kamal Ackarie
Composer/ Sound: John O'Hara

2003-02-07 10:30:18