By Cal
Link: https://www.actorscentre.co.uk/theatre-on-demand/character-solos/about
Available until: Probably for a couple of days (today is 11th March 2021)
This is the second episode of Character Solos, a very exciting and unusual series of monologues from The Actors Centre. Usually, in a monologue, the characters are speaking their thoughts out loud and nobody hears them or they’re speaking to an imagined audience who makes no interruptions.
In Character Solos, there is at least one other person present. The character speaks to them and interacts with them, but the other people are never seen or heard. The only clue we have about what they say comes in the way the characters respond to them. It’s a really great approach to a monologue and a very successful one.
The second episode of Character Solos has a slightly different feel from the first. James Kemp showed in his direction of Episode 1 that you don’t need a lot of movement to generate power, that you can sit in one place and still fill the stage with energy. Episode 2 shows you that while movement might not always be necessary, it can add a lot to a scene. Ezra, in the first scene, does stay in his chair, but there’s a feeling that he might quite like to jump up and move around. Julia moves around the stage quite a lot. H-1F ‘Girly’ stands up and moves her chair a few times. Dan mostly sits still, but you can see his body language changing. Isaac paces around the stage in order to create tension. When Michael moves, he’s probably trying to dissipate his tension.
It’s another really intriguing selection of characters and seven really great scenes.
Ezra is in serious trouble. He’s a pupil at school and he’s caused a serious incident. He’s called to discuss it with, presumably, the headmaster. It’s a defiant, vulnerable and brilliant performance from Teddy Walker.
Julia is sitting alone downstairs at night when her husband Edward arrives home. He wasn’t where he said he was and Julia knows it. There are certain themes which feel very uncomfortable in the present day, but it’s a powerful piece of writing and Sophie Angleson drips with contempt as Julia. Edward, you are in serious trouble, mate.
H-1F ‘Girly’ is providing support for a 92 year old lady named Margaret. H-1F ‘Girly’ is very patronising and she seems to think she’s cleverer than the person she’s working with, which is very typical for a social worker… except she’s not a social worker. Not really. Sarah Woodruff manages to be both vulnerable and intimidating as she and Margaret form a care plan… of sorts.
Dan is at a party. He doesn’t know anyone, but he gets talking to a couple. He starts telling them his life story, which was probably just what they wanted. You know those annoying men who won’t take the hint and go away. It’s a great monologue that is ideal for the ‘invisible characters’ theme and Jude Monk McGowan is so different from lovely Andrea in Character Solos Episode 1.
Isaac wants to speak to someone about something. It’s very important (to him) and he’s determined to get what he wants. Rotimi Pearce is intimidating as Isaac, but there’s something very inspiring about him at the same time.
Michael has come to see his dad. It’s been a long time. A very long time. It very nearly didn’t happen this time either, but he’s here and there are a few things he needs to say. This is a more traditional monologue because it doesn’t seem like his dad is saying much at all, but James Kemp puts so much tension in this scene. So much suppressed emotion.
Cheryl wants a word with Susie. Like, now. Like, five minutes ago. She’s got good reason not to be overly happy with her, but Susie has the sense not to open the door. Nicolette Morrison sounds so reasonable at first, though considering the situation, I’m not sure I’d trust her. It’s a great performance and as Susie’s on the other side of the door, it makes complete dramatic sense that we’d be able to hear Cheryl but not Susie.
These monologues are really well-written and well-acted and they’re all really different. Each writer has created a really strong character, an interesting character who we’re happy to hear doing all the talking. There’s such a powerful feeling of tension in each one and even on the rare occasions when you don’t like the character, you still want to listen to them.
Some of the monologues are unpredictable, sometimes you
have an uneasy feeling you know exactly where they’re going, but at the same
time, you don’t really want the monologue to go anywhere else.
If there’s going to be an Episode 3, I am seriously here
for it.
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