ROSEGOLD (Thornhill Theatre Space)*****

 

  

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uH1rOkpROA

Available until: Unknown

Rosegold, presented as part of #TTSFringe2, is an exceptionally powerful piece of writing which is wonderfully performed by the writer. There is no age rating, but it’s definitely a production where listener discretion is advised. There are descriptions of violence and injury as well as references to alcoholism. If you’re young or you’re feeling sensitive, this might not be a good time for you to listen to it, but maybe consider it again when you’re older or you feel stronger because it really is brilliant.

Jamie is an alcoholic. She has been part of a virtual support group for some time, but so far, she has remained silent and not told her story. In Rosegold, she finally makes the decision to share it with others. It is technically not a monologue – Jamie’s sponsor, Cary, makes a couple of brief appearances – but the forty-two minute-piece is very nearly all Jamie.

Jamie didn’t want to become an alcoholic. (Of course she didn’t – I would think very few people do.) Growing up, she actually developed plenty of reasons not to become an alcoholic. But one horrific night changes everything.

It’s a truly harrowing story. It goes into places you don’t expect, but it always feels completely believable. Donna Kay Yarborough has written this piece so beautifully, creating the character of Jamie, building up the story and telling it in a way which is clear and easy to follow but also a convincing way for Jamie to tell it. Human beings tend not to tell a story from beginning to end - we meander and forget things and often confuse our audience. When you’re writing a play, you want to have an element of this, but a theatre audience can’t usually ask questions so the writer needs to give the impression of things being slightly confused, but everything still needs to be completely clear. (Which I probably haven’t been, but I hope you can work out what I mean.) Donna has done this so well.

Donna also performs the role of Jamie and she inhabits her character so fully, with so much attention paid to the details of her performance in her appearance, voice and mannerisms. It’s a compelling and very emotional performance. It’s so easy to forget this is a play because Jamie feels so real as a human being. Donna must have incredible energy to get through the play, but she portrays a deep sense of mental and physical exhaustion which is tangible and she looks truly haunted by Jamie’s experiences.

Although his role is very small, I will also mention Grant Knutson, who plays Cary. I’m certainly not playing down the incredibly mental, emotional and even physical toll of playing a character like Jamie, not to mention the talent required, but the small roles can be really challenging too because there is so little time to make an impression. Grant has little to do, but he still makes Cary into an essential part of the play and the way he manages to take over the drama, hold our attention and instantly draw us into his role when he does get his moment is impressive.

Rosegold is really outstanding and if you feel you can watch it, I strongly recommend that you do.