Friday, March 29, 2024
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Review – Angry: a thought-provoking play by Philip Ridley at Southwark Playhouse

There is a great need for theatre that makes you contemplate today’s society. Thought provoking theatre is a rare gem nowadays. This world premiere of Philip Ridley’s “Angry leaves the audience with lots to think about, and that’s what makes it an unmissable event.

On entering the theatre space, the audience is welcomed by Jim Whitcher ‘s soundscore. The sound of drums is intense, setting the mood and preparing the audience to engage with what will come. Two actors, Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia) and Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar), are looking angrily at each other, in the middle of a pit that is the stage. The audience is all around them, in the round. It feels like a boxing match is about to start.

What are you looking at? That’s the question the two actors keep repeating at each other at the very beginning, before the opening monologue “Angry” starts. Then Henley is left alone on stage, confronting a silent audience with a rage which comes from the need to be recognised, while at the same time hiding from this big eye that is society.

Then, it’s Huntley’s turn to take us down with him in a vortex of frustration caused by opportunity, or better, caused by the inability to grasp it. It’s the frustration of not being able to keep up with this fast paced life. A common feeling in a world that moves faster and faster, and where hesitation and ponder could lead to failure. If you stop to breathe, you’ve lost your moment.

Monologue after monologue, we see every aspect of anger being portrayed and, as an audience member, I can’t help but ask myself: what is it about this world that creates anger? Is it the silent eye of society, ready to judge you? Is it the incapability to seize the moment and grab opportunities? Is it your first love who’s now looking right through you, at a window full of his reflection, without really noticing you? Is it gang-violence that interrupts everyday life? Is it terrorism? And how can your mind escape that fear? Maybe a journey through space, right into a black hole? And if you think that anger has no effect on your life, there’s the last monologue “Air” to remind us that anger leads to war, and war leads to death. A slow, painful death that will spare no one.

The monologues are interesting and well written, as it is to be expected by an author such as Philip Ridley. But what makes Angry a really powerful piece of theatre is the staging and the skilled performances by Henley and Huntley. The six monologues have such an impact because the actors are able to bring each line to life, and to engage the audience at every moment, without allowing any attention to drift away from them. Director Max Lindsay deserves a special mention for being able to fully realise his vision, leading the actors’ performances to fully compliment Ridley’s words. James Donnelly ‘s  design and Cassie Mitchell’s  lights are perfect in their simplicity, underlying the most dramatic moments, and setting the scene in a very simple but extremely effective way.

Angry is an impressive show, full of passion and very skillfully put together by Tramp production, whose work proves once more to be innovative, daring and successful. It’s also a gender neutral show, where each monologue is performed by both actors on alternate nights. It’s a must see.

Angry is on at Southwark Playhouse untill 10th March

Venue: Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, Inner London, Greater London SE1 6BD

Time: Mon to Sat – 8.00pm (Tues & Sat Matinee – 3.30pm)

She follows him: tuesday matinee, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday evening

He follows her: Monday, tuesday evening, thursday, Saturday matinee

Price £20 | £16 concessions | All previews £12

More info and ticketswww.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/angry/#booking

 

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