Edgy script in coming of age play
FRESH from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes an engaging tale about three teenagers coming of age.
FRESH from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes an engaging tale about three teenagers coming of age.
The Eastern Angles' latest touring production, I Caught Crabs In Walberswick, is a different yet nonetheless interesting look at 24 life-changing hours for these young people.
Its first performance in Suffolk last night was staged at an appropriate venue - Ipswich Girls School in Woolverstone, and seemed to be well supported by its students, which helped to get into the youthful spirit of the play.
Written by 2007 Fringe First winner Joel Horwood, the script never fails to delight, with class lines you desperately attempt to recall later. Together with excellent direction from 26-year-old Lucy Kerbel, the play never loses pace.
Fitz and Wheeler are fishing for crabs in Walberswick when “posh totty” Dani turns up and the three embark on a night of madness, whereby they each learn something about themselves and are forced to tackle their own demons.
At the beginning, I was slightly distracted by the accents as some of the so-called Suffolk dialects do tend to stray a little however this is soon forgiven by all round good performances.
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One of the most effective parts was the interspersed small scenes which showed the youngsters' parents and their own neuroses.
The comedy timing of both Andrew Barron and Rosie Thomson, who played all the different parental roles and narrated, shows off their acting experience, although both Gemma Soul (Dani) and Aaron Foy (Fitz) were convincing even though it was their debut performance.
Those wanting to see this should attend with an open mind and expect an edgy yet well-written play, which should be embraced for its appeal to a wider audience.
The next production will be at the Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge, tomorrow at 7.30pm, followed by performances at Sir John Mills Theatre, Ipswich on Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19, at 7.45pm.
For tickets call 01473 211498 or visit www.easternangles.co.uk.
NAOMI CASSIDY
