By Cal
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ-RS0j_bh0&t=18s
Available until: Unknown.
A Permanent Scar by Rachel Flynn draws you in
instantly. An unnamed man, played by Sean Cernow, is talking about a girl he’d
liked for a long time. This really is the story of ‘the one who got away’
because he’s speaking in the past tense. I was wondering straight away if she’s
just not part of his life anymore or if her departure from his life is as
permanent as the scar mentioned in the title (a quote from the song Drops of
Jupiter by Train).
Clearly, something major has happened – but writer Rachel Flynn is in no hurry to tell us exactly what and she’s very good at making us wait without letting us get impatient.
I like this play because it keeps changing my perceptions.
Not just of where the man’s story is going, but exactly what role, if any, I (as
a member of the audience) played. Sometimes with a monologues, the characters
are thinking aloud. At other times, they’re addressing a very specific person
and that role is played by the audience. Was I a friend? A new potential lover?
Some random person he met at the bar and ended up spilling his life story to?
Or is he just saying what’s in his head?
It’s the questions like this that keep you hooked. You want
to know more. I had a horrible feeling I was about to hear a really sad story,
but I wasn’t sure. This story could have gone anywhere.
Sean Cernow’s character is very likeable and got my sympathy
straight away. Often, when I have a feeling a story is about to go in a sad
direction, I find myself feeling not completely sure if I want to listen. But
this guy seemed like someone who really needed to talk and there was something
about him that made me want to listen right to the end. And I’m glad I did.
No comments:
Post a Comment