TRANSMISSIONS II : 4 Young Writers
Transmissions 2003
Birmingham Rep The Door
Wednesday 9th July 2003: Rod Dungate
Part II
Four more young writers spread dramatic and comedic wingsOur first offering was VAMPIRES AMONG US, a short play from 16 year old Dominic Dean. Dean is looking at a serious issue in his intriguing piece. Based on the real murder of an elderly woman by a teenage neighbour, he explores the popularity and fascination of vampires and the like to young people. I suspect this is an extract or the beginning of a longer play. Some very sparky wit in a serious play and I like the way young, confused Charlie sits surfing the net in the centre of it.
Farrah Savero (THE STRAINE) must be congratulated with trying her hand at lengthy scenes in which she builds dramatic tension through psychological exploration. She doesn't always succeed and sometimes misjudges the emotional entry point of characters into scenes: I suspect the 'who was driving the car when the woman was killed' plot line may simply not be strong enough. But much more important than this is the fact that Farrah often does succeed in this most difficult of tasks. She has also created in Laura (the, we are led to believe, wrongly accused driver) a deeply disturbing and manipulative character.
Thomas Willshire's HOLE intriguingly explores a theme usually left to older writers. Young, vulnerable Toby watches Ernest digging graves we suspect a disturbing interest in things to do with death. But, we gradually learn, he's more intrigued by much older Ernest's sweating as he digs in the heat, finally revealing his fascination for the man as he kisses him. Willshire maturely unfolds his play piece by piece to a violent and totally unexpected climax. Wilshire has two tasks he might consider if further developing this play: one is to sort out whether he's really speaking of shovels or spades (it's important) and the other is whether he should reconsider his final scene in some way.
I've studiously avoided speaking of actors in both Part I and Part II of these pieces (the season is about writers not actors nor directors) but I have to say Laurence Saunders's solid, no-nonsense, as real-as-they-come, Black Country, Ernest was a joy to watch.
Finally, Luke Armstrong's little joy PRISONERS OF THE MIND. Armstrong has written a kind of bizarre thriller: a warder (we seem to be in a kind of mental hospital wing of a prison) has been discovered murdered apparently with a kitchen utensil. I would describe 13 year old Armstrong's style as Agatha Christie meets Outer Limits meets League of Gentlemen. And I give him a star for one of the best lines I've heard in years: suspect deaf ex-solider MacCillroy says under questioning 'I've done many horrendous things in my life Doctor, but I've never tried spooning someone to death.' Marvellous.
VAMPIRES AMONG US: Dominic Dean
Director: Therese Collins
THE STRAINE: Farrah Savero
Director: Caroline Jester
PRISONERS OF THE MIND: Luke Armstrong
Director: Therese Collins
HOLE: Thomas Willshire
Director: Carl Miller
2003-07-10 12:00:48