HANG LENNY POPE. To 5 May.

Birmingham

HANG LENNY POPE
by Chris O’Connell

Theatre Absolute in co-production with Warwick Arts Centre Tour to 5 May 2007
Midlands Art Centre (MAC): Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. Telephone: 0121 440 3838.
Runs: 1h 15m
Review: Jan Pick 17 April

Final Judgment!
A room dominated by a coffin sets the rather macabre scene for Chris O’Connell’s ‘Hang Lenny Pope’.

Accused of murdering his girlfriend, her family and friends have ganged up and beaten young Lenny Pope to death. The play explores the effect of this violent death on his parents - particularly his father, Ray - and their despair and bewilderment as they are forced to question why their child had become a violent and disaffected stranger.

As the evening progresses the causes become increasingly apparent as the Pope family try to find a meaning for Lenny’s behaviour, and a place to lay the blame. Each person in the tragedy, including the ‘body’ has a point of view, and the relationship between his parents - Ray and Caroline - already strained, now becomes the focus of the drama. Will they survive the loss of their ne’er-do-well son, or is this the final nail, not only in his coffin, but also in their marriage?

John Flitcroft gives a lovely central performance as Ray Pope, a man racked by guilt and grief, discovering how his relationship with his son had ultimately damaged them both. Sensitive support comes from Amanda Crossley as his wife, Caroline. Lee Colley gives Lenny a dark-edged and desperate humour, and Rachel Brogan makes the most of her cameo role as his girlfriend, Mia.

Written with sharp observational humour, despite its tragic subject matter, the play’s gradually accumulating tension draws the audience inexorably into the whirlpool of emotions swirling between the characters.

Lenny: Lee Colley
Ray: John Flitcroft
Caroline: Amanda Crossley
Mia: Rachel Brogan

Writer/Director: Chris O’Connell
Producer: Julia Negus

Original Soundscape: Andy Garbi
Set & Costume Design: Janet Vaughan
Lighting Design: James Farncombe

Dramaturg: John Ginman

Design Assistant: Emma Blundell
Trainee Director: Lizzie Wiggs
Company Stage Manager: Nicci Burton

Publ;ished by Oberon Books
Script Link

2007-05-20 15:03:32