THE JAR (The New Theatre Dublin/Scenesaver)***

 

By Aashiq

Link: https://www.scenesaver.co.uk/production/the-jar 

Available until:

Content warning: Language, 15+

You know, this is such a good idea? It almost makes me want my husband to cheat on me so I can do it to him. I really don’t think he’d like it. But he hasn’t done anything to deserve it yet. He did get a bit moody about where I left my hairspray (how was I meant to know he was going to trip over it? I mean, it was right in the middle of the floor, it could hardly have been more visible), but this method of revenge needs a much more serious crime.

In The Jar, Amanda is recovering from physical and emotional trauma. (Not in a really bad way. Just in a sort of funny-to-us, not-at-all-funny-to-her way.) She’s waiting for a visit from her ex but before he arrives, Amanda realises there is an intruder in her home, which is just what she needs.

Writer and director Myrn Devaney has created a likeable and amusing character who talks us through some of her bad decisions in the most hilarious way (I should learn to do that. Next time I make a bad decision like putting my cup of tea in exactly the right place for it to go over my husband’s laptop when I knock it with my elbow, I’ll tell him about it in a hilarious way, then maybe he’ll only refuse to speak to me for two hours instead of three). The writing is very entertaining throughout and the direction is very realistic. Amanda sits down without doing much when there’s no reason for her to move about – and this means that when she does move, the movements are instantly meaningful and therefore interesting.

There’s also a cameo from Alexa, which is really interesting because I think Alexa has a pathological inability to lie even about normal things like how much those new shoes really were. So I wonder if the whole scene had to be set up so Alexa could give the right answer or if any answer would have done. I think her answer is quite significant because it totally changed my view of what was going on.

Amanda hasn’t exactly had the best time, especially not on a certain balcony, but she’s not moaning. Well, not really. Lauren Farrell makes her far too entertaining for that, whether she’s recounting disasters, dealing with intruders, or just being her enterprising self. Amanda’s not my romantic type (she’d need a sex change and I’d need a divorce, which does seem a step too far when it comes to fictional characters), but I bet she’s a lot of fun when she doesn’t hate you.