TAJ: Hugh Allison

Presented by The Yellow Chair Performance Experience
Upstairs at the Gatehouse: Tkts 020 8340 3488
Runs: 1hr 35 mins one interval: until 16th August
Review: Kim Durham 6th August

A step too far for this inexperienced young company
Hugh Allison is credited as writer, director, producer and publicist for TAJ. Taking the bold step to put this play on in a prestigious London fringe venue shows considerable chutzpah. On the evidence of this outing, this is his most impressive asset. It may take him far.

However, it was perhaps unwise for the producer to employ himself both as writer and director, as - on the evidence of this - he is, as yet, neither.

The inexperienced cast is cruelly exposed on the stage of the Gatehouse. They are simply not ready for this level of public performance, and certainly need stronger support from both the material they are working with and from the direction.

Even the lighting appears to let them down, as they spend much of their time meandering around in semi-darkness.

The central character in this worryingly solipsistic piece is drama student Candy, who, in a number of maudlin monologues opines, Holden Caulfield like, on the phoniness of those about him.

There is some attempt, on the part of the writer, to distance himself from these adolescent musings through the late introduction of some Pirandello style theatrical deconstruction. This only serves to suggest the writer's own loss of confidence in his material.

On the evening I saw TAJ, it played to an extremely small audience. I only hope that this production will not prove too bruising an experience for its writer/director/producer and predominantly young cast. Back to the drawing board, rehearsal room, etc.

Edward Coldroz: Joe Cronin
Candy: Nick Delvalle
Holly: Eda Esir
Sandy: Sharon Jones
Tony: PJ King
Gwyneth: Lucy Lloyd
Louise: Kerry Nolan
Edward Finator: Rafe Pugh

Director/ Producer: Hugh Allison
Lighting/Sound: Matt Morris

2003-08-06 19:40:57