RIPPLES (Compacts)****

 

By Dave

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvHKxqumZh0

Available until: Unknown

Warning: Contains themes of suicide

I actually didn’t read the warning before I watched this play. I just clicked on the video and watched. Just watching this with no ideas or expectations of what might happen was a really powerful experience but because of the seriousness of the themes, I can’t really advise people to do the same thing.

But I don’t think knowing in advance will spoil the play# at all.

When the video starts, all you see is someone sitting in their car beside the sea. Then the character begins to talk and it’s not clear at first what’s going on but immediately, this play has got your attention. The script is really strong and writer Rick Allden has created another great character.

When you do realise what’s happening, there’s a moment of shock but the play keeps going, the tension keeps rising. You don’t know how this is going to go. It’s like there are two stories going on at once, two stories which are skilfully interwoven. The first story is the situation the character is dealing with right now. The second story is getting to know the character.

Director Caitlin Magnall-Kearns has set a fast pace for the script. There’s no time for us, the audience, to stop and think – and I think that’s exactly right for the story. Boo Golding’s performance is exceptional. Their emotions are really strongly expressed and everything they say feels so real and urgent. The camera is focused on Boo the whole time and I can imagine that with a lot of actors, you’d be wanting to see a bit more of the world around them. But that doesn’t happen here because you really don’t want to miss a second of Boo’s performance.

This is a really powerful and exciting monologue. A great idea, a brilliant piece of writing and a performer who really does do it justice.