I CAUGHT CRABS IN WALBERSWICK: Horwood, touring till 11 October.

Nottingham/Touring.

I CAUGHT CRABS IN WALBERSWICK: Joel Horwood.
Lakeside Arts Centre: Tkts 0115 846 7777 www.lakesidearts.org.uk
Touring Details: www.companyofangels.co.uk.
Runs: 1h 15m: no interval.
Review: Alan Geary: 27 September 2008.

Not just a nice pun. It’s a coming-of-age piece and more.
The punning title - a nice marketing ploy - is justified. At the start, two sex-obsessed lads in their GCSE year, Wheeler and Fitz, are catching crabs (as in sea) in Walberswick. It seems that Wheeler caught crabs (as in STD) in a tent on another occasion.

This isn’t simply a routine coming-of-age piece with a strong narrative thrust: it’s concerned with class and generational differences.

Done on a virtually bare stage, with splendid sound effects, it’s interwoven with plots featuring Wheeler’s parents (amusing), Fitz’s dad (also amusing) and, more importantly, posh Dani’s relationships with her estranged parents (as tragic as it’s amusing).

Dani’s sub-Sloane gestures and throw-away accent and intonation are perfectly caught by Gemma Soul; so is her sexiness. And the boys are well differentiated by Harry Hepple (Wheeler) and Aaron Foy (Fitz). Andrew Barron and Rosie Thomson play all the adult roles - Thomson is particularly strong as Vernon’s mum, Steph, and as Dani’s mum, the sad, ineffectual Ursula.

Directed by Lucy Kerbel, this Eastern Angles production isn’t as cutting edge or original as last year’s Truckstop but it’s rewarding nonetheless.

One: Andrew Barron.
Fitz: Aaron Foy.
Wheeler: Harry Hepple.
Dani: Gemma Soul.
Two: Rosie Thomsom.

Director: Lucy Kerbel.
Set Design: takis.
Lighting Design: Matt Prentice.

2008-09-30 08:18:23