Page 168 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book

Heynes provides a more muted and far more relaxed Rory, but is clearly at home
on stage, especially with such a meaty role.

Bella Maclean brings ‘kindness and wisdom’ to her role as the mother-in-law.
Photograph: Mihaela Bodlovic
Top of the class is Bella Maclean, who has the hard task of playing Rory’s mother
Morven.

Maclean breathes kindness and wisdom into a role that could easily have fallen
into overacting and fluffery.

A lovely power struggle between Maddy and Morven encapsulates both the skill of
the actors and the writing, as personal borders are drawn up over cups of tea.

David Buttle mops up all the other characters with a versatile skill for accents.
Louie Whitemore’s set greets us, bare and stylish – perhaps a touch cool for the
domestic drama but functional.

The choice of a traverse stage – similar to a fashion catwalk – is perplexing, as
even for fully professional productions it can be jarring for the audience and
difficult for actors.

Nick Peel’s lights, on the other hand, shine (obviously) with a cinematic style,
giving the play a slick flow.

Despite some slightly odd directorial choices from Kate Budgen, like projecting a
video of a random child as the finale, the play is quick, inquisitive and well-
performed.

What an exciting first step into the world of theatre for these actors, and one they
should be proud of.
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