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Three pairs of actors play Emile and Emily in three different stories. Sparks of continuity draw together three intense duets containing some impressive performances.Summary
Rating
Good
Emile and Emily is Tightrope Theatre’s contribution to VAULT Festival this week, showing in the Pit. Three writers, Philippa Lawford, Mojola Akinyemi and Nurit Chinn, have written three stories about three pairs of people with the titular names. First, a pair of flatmate-friends who clash over a rift brought about by the different worlds they come from. Then, two flight attendants getting to know each other over some literal turbulence, who end up inexplicably spilling some of their deepest feelings. Finally, the sister and the boyfriend of someone who recently passed away in an accident, discovering the different man they knew in the same person. The last one was unexpected though, because the billing on the VAULT Festival website mentions instead a ‘disastrous celebrity interview’ which didn’t make an appearance tonight.
Simply displayed, the set is only two chairs and one box-worth of props. In the slight gloom of the Pit our focus is brought to the characters with simple lighting. This works well, because the skilled cast give good performances all round. There is some excellence that is easy to pinpoint in two of the Emiles: Isaiah St Jean’s subtly emotive performance and Adam Mirsky’s complex guilt/grief stands out amongst the six performers.
A warning to anyone who may attend with additional sensory needs or sensitivities. It was a difficult watch for some time because the rumble of trains above the venue (unavoidable) was also accompanied by a loud and distracting hum from the speakers set up at the front. There aren’t many rows, and I was sat only second from front, but the stewards are diligent in filling up every seat from the front so you may not have any choice on how close you are. I wonder if this could be dealt with because I didn’t notice any use of the speakers until the second of the three stories. It may have been a more enjoyable experience overall if I wasn’t struggling to tune out an ever-present buzz.
It’s a really lovely idea to treat us to separate stories in this fashion. There are little flecks of continuity through them in addition to the character names: the colour teal, twins, headaches and a chaise longue. However, the individual content of the stories is unique, making for three really different experiences. Given only about 20 minutes per tale, there is a lot packed into each one, and the writers manage this in different ways. The flatmates really focus in on one theme – a socioeconomic divide – which is hammered in perhaps a little ham-fistedly (although I do think there are lots of people that need this). A number of different things come up between the flight attendants, but they return back to the important things on their mind, in the kind of way that does happen in real-life conversation. The final story delivers a sensitive discovery of feelings and connections centred around a single person who is known differently by family than by a lover. It is incredibly well-written, relatable and emotional.
Written by: Philippa Lawford, Mojola Akinyemi and Nurit Chinn
Directed by: Philippa Lawford
Produced by: Izzy Parriss for Tightrope Theatre
Emile and Emily is playing at VAULT Festival until Sunday 26 February. Further information and bookings can be found here.
