LOOKING FOR JJ. To 14 March.

London

LOOKING FOR JJ
by Anne Cassidy adapted for the stage by Marcus Romer.

Pilot Theatre Tour 6 February-14 March 2008.
Runs 1hr 25min No interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 November at Unicorn Theatre London.

Shows what’s lost in translation.
A prize-winning story of sex, prostitution and murder for the young, Anne Cassidy’s novel treads superbly through the tough territory it marks out. Cassidy handles a central character whose life has been split in two by a moment’s violence when aged 11 with sympathy and understanding, and without a hint of glibness.

She never piles on the causes, but they’re all there, hazily perceived by 11-year old Jennifer Jones, including the stresses of the day that leads to a fatal act. Yet Cassidy leaves open the possibility of a “quirk” in Jennifer's psychological make-up, to use a word from David Williamson’s A Conversation (at Manchester’s Royal Exchange during the London run of JJ and dealing with parallel material).

There’s violence in Jennifer Jones’ childhood that could have as much to do with her character as with her experiences. It’s part of the book’s strength, together with its two time-zones, contrasting the semi-comprehended world of a girl manipulated by others, so even the name she’s called isn’t her own, and the reflective realisation of a young woman about to go to university.

And then there’s this play. Marcus Romer’s hectic theatricality has served Pilot well. But it’s not the stuff for this material, despite bursts of theatrical energy, and Laura McEwen’s apt set, a bare triangle confining JJ within walls repeatedly covered in hurtling video, projected images, or newspaper coverage, while figures call from outside, intruding on her privacy.

Too many images – a wounded dog, feral cat, glamorous mum – mean little in themselves. In each case, Cassidy develops their importance by repetition or sustained exploration. For those who know the story they may have meaning but are unlikely to add much; for those who don’t, they seem inchoate aspects of a speed-run adaptation.

Still, they do create a kind of crazily imagistic kaleidoscope. But there’s only loss with the unvarying highly-wrought acting, particularly from Christian Baily’s title character. Playing emotion rather than expressing JJ’s thoughts, it irons–out variety and meaning. By taking this approach, the piece doesn’t find JJ but creates a whirlwind that buries her under heaps of effects.

Jill/Carol/Sara: Melanie Ash.
Kate/Alice/JJ: Christina Baily.
Lucy/Sophie: Rochelle Gadd.
Frankie/Stevie/Mr Cottis: Davood Ghadami.
Michelle/Lindsay: Louise Kempton.
Rosie: Suzann McLean.

Director: Marcus Romer.
Designer: Laura McEwen.
Lighting: James Farncombe.
Sound/Music: Sandy Nuttgens.
Projections: A. Friess for Pixelbox Ltd.
Assistant director: Suzann McLean.

2007-11-27 00:17:34