KATHERINE. To 8 August.

KATHERINE
by Tom Green

Finborough Theatre To 8 August 2005
31 July, 1,7,8, August 8pm
Runs 45min No interval

TICKETS: 0870 4000 838 (24 hours)
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 July

Past and present experiences caught up with writer's block.Katherine's life seems complete. Her first book's been a success and here she is on an unnamed Caribbean island (the play's premier took place in Antigua), sent by her agent to work on the follow-up. But Katherine has troubles J K Rowling could only have nightmares about.

After her debut's slow-burn success she's met writer's block, and her agent's packed her off to the sun with orders to stay until the new manuscript's ready. Is she a one-hit wonder? Her life should have plenty left to ram-raid for material. Katherine's in her late forties, having spent her adult life in the lower rungs of science, as lab. technologist and on a science journal.

In both, her unspoken role was available sex object, to a bristly professor then to successive editors who never promoted her into significance. Tom Green unfolds Katherine's biography alongside her account of the new man in her life (there's always one on an island holiday) American writer Paul, a man from the sea. At first Katherine thinks he's a drowned body, something that recurs in her nightmare.

Theatre's full of one-person confessional drama (never more so than with the Edinburgh Fringe blowing in the wind), but Green creates an interesting character mature enough to bring a reflective angle to her past and a sense of perspective to present experiences. It's a touching tale.

Movingly performed by Madeleine Howard, a performer probably best known the publicity tells us, from 6 years in Yorkshire Television's Emmerdale. The phenomenon of soap-stars taking centre-stage is common enough. But they don't usually do it in a Fringe venue, even one as distinguished as the Finborough. Maybe there are hopes for a transfer, a tour, fame, fortune all the things Katherine's not quite achieved at an age when life's possibilities generally recede.

Or maybe not. It could be Antigua and Earl's Court are the only places that will ever witness this drama. In which case, they're fortunate. It's individual and convincing, while Howard's extensive theatre experience is evident in her varied, controlled performance. A brief, yet fulfilling event.

Katherine: Madeleine Howard

Director: Keith Washington

2005-07-28 11:23:46