By Louise
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FpqZKACdCY
Available until: Unknown
Monologue Monday 2 of Thornhill Theatre Space's #TTSFringe2 features five monologues which are all very different.
Slow Dating by Adam Szdrich is a really incredible monologue about an elderly lady who tries speed-dating. The monologue is short, but it has humour, it has warmth and it has so much emotion. I really like the way it has been filmed too. Mr Szudrich and Katie Burson are both credited as directors and the cinematographer is Remy Fowler. I like the fact we are mostly at a distance because it’s like being at the theatre, but whenever there’s a really important emotional moment, we see the character’s face in close-up. I think this is a great way of using the best parts of theatre and film to create a great performance.
I really love the character’s personality and the actor (I think her name is Julie Collis) is so brilliant. A lot of people talk about a lack of good roles for older woman, but this is a great role, even though it isn’t very long and Ms Collis does so much with it.
Je Suis Noire | I Am Black by Jacqueline Elisabeth is a really important and emotional piece about the writer’s experience of racism. I think the honesty in this piece is really powerful and although it’s probably scripted, you can feel the genuine emotion in it so it feels spontaneous, like you are really in the moment and you are being told about it right now – and that feels right because it is happening right now and it needs to be stopped because we should all be equal. We should all have the same opportunities and the same respect and the same safety.
I also really like the way the story isn’t just about racism. It is so necessary that we all learn, but I really like the way we also get to know Jacqueline Elisabeth as a person. It is equally terrible whether you know the person or not, but it reminds us really strongly (if we ever forgot) that racism happens to individuals, including those with intelligence, warmth and humour who come from a respected family with money. We can’t ever assume that anyone with ‘advantages’ will be okay. If a section of society decides you’re not equal, then it doesn’t matter how many valued qualities you have. It can still happen and it does happen and it’s horrible. Not that it is okay to be racist towards people who are genuinely bad people. It is their actions that are bad. Not the colour of their skin.
The monologues also include The Covid-19 Trilogy from the wonderful Elysium Theatre Company. We have already reviewed these so here are the links to our reviews.
Monologue Monday Part 2
has so much to enjoy and to learn and to think about. I am really grateful we
were asked to cover this festival as I might never have watched this otherwise.
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