Home » Reviews » Off West End » Lucy and the Hawk, Ovalhouse Theatre

Lucy and the Hawk, Ovalhouse Theatre

Written and Directed by Phil Ormrod
Performed and co-devised by Tom Walton & Abigail Moffatt
★★★★

Pros: Perfectly choreographed, great performances and nice design.

Cons: Stream of consciousness monologues can make it a little hard to follow the plot in places.

Our Verdict: Great! Another fun, engaging piece from the Ovalhouse.

Courtesy of the Ovalhouse

It’s been a while since we last ventured down to the Ovalhouse Theatre, March in fact. Since we’ve last been down, the theatre bar and restaurant area has experienced a bit of a makeover. And it looks stunning, with vivid pastel colours, puzzles for all to help complete, and a stunning new mural painting. One of the Theatre Directors tells me they want to make sure going to the theatre is an experience – it’s not just about the art. Presents are even more fun to open when they are beautifully wrapped, she explains. Well, they’ve done a cracking job, and this just re-iterates what a pleasure it is to go down to this cool, dynamic venue.

This time, we were treated to Lucy and the Hawk. Part devised, this is a piece performed by two actors. The performers alternate being on stage, with one silently miming the action, the other narrating their interior monologue – or rather, flows of consciousness – and providing live sound effects with the various bits and pieces they have on their offstage desks. The plot itself revolves around two characters. First there’s Lucy, a lonely young girl who is plagued by her telephone, with a man calling her repeatedly, convinced she is someone she isn’t. And then there’s Elliot, a normally calm man who enjoys flying kites, but who becomes obsessed with a Hawk circling above him whenever he looks. The script is sometimes a little hard to follow (you need to be in the right mind-set to get into the swing of the stream of consciousness), but ultimately it is a warm and beautifully told story about loneliness, passion and acceptance.

The performances from the two actors are of an excellent quality. Walton is agile, brisk and dynamic in his movements, while Moffatt’s facial expressions and mannerisms are very moving. They complement each other perfectly and form a team which is a pleasure to watch and a treat for a seasoned theatre-goer. Their ensemble performance is charming, and they tell the story in an impeccably choreographed manner. Their timing is faultless, and the show runs like a well-oiled machine. Kudos goes to both Moffatt and Walton for their energetic and at times emotional renditions, but also to writer/director Phil Ormrod for his slick, streamlined production.

The design of the show is another strong point, with a clever, functional, but also aesthetically pleasing set. Three tables with jolty angles double up as supports for doors, blackboards and phones thanks to cleverly concealed magnets. The backdrop is a white-and-blue sash which contrasts wonderfully with use of red items, especially during one particularly engaging sequence involving books. The whole production is also supported by an excellent soundtrack, a medley of sounds to which the performance is choreographed.

All in all, Lucy and the Hawk is an enjoyable and well thought-out piece, which is at once funny, emotional and energetic. The design is great, and the performances razor-sharp. Sometimes the monologues, the ‘stream of consciousness’ can leave a little too much to the imagination, but that’s really a minor point. It’s a great show, get your tickets soon, and enjoy a meal and a drink at the Ovalhouse’s new bar area before the show!

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!

Lucy and the Hawk runs at the Ovalhouse until 27th October 2012.
Box Office: 020 7582 768 or book online at http://www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/detail/lucy-and-the-hawk

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