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A beautifully dark and enthralling tale of the West Country.Summary
Rating
Excellent
In the small black box of the super friendly Hope Theatre, we were transported by the words and performance of Jack Brownridge Kelly to the darkest corner of Cornwall.
Having lived in the West Country, I can testify to the somewhat strange occurrences that occasionally befall “emits”: the West Country word for ants, often used as slang for tourists. Jack Brownridge Kelly cleverly draws us into the naïve world of Colin, a writer who has recently moved to the area. Following a throw away comment by one of the locals, Colin becomes obsessed with the idea of blowing up of a shed that he can see from his window. When offered the chance to become part of a village/group/gang, Colin embarks upon a life-changing set of actions.
The staging- more than a nod to Cornelia Parker’s installation, Cold Dark Matter– of an exploded shed, provided an effective focus for the show. The storytelling was gripping, with just the right amount of tension prior to being lifted into the comedic realm. Kelly’s performance was enthralling, capturing the essence of the West Country via his exemplary portrayals of the local characters. Moving from naïve writer to intimidating, roll up smoking local, then to a female, sexually frustrated member of the local book club was simultaneously threatening and hilarious. Kelly’s physical and vocal manifestation of the characters was excellent, and he didn’t miss a beat throughout.
A one-man show is a difficult thing to pull off. Keeping the audience’s attention and staying in character, especially when in touching distance of the audience, would challenge many actors, but not so for Jack Brownridge Kelly. Praise should also go to Director Roisin McCay-Hines for her inventive use of light, sound, and minimal staging.
The play was first performed in Mousehole last year, and I can only smile as I imagine the audience reactions to seeing their historically dark underbelly on stage; it must have been an electric atmosphere. The structure of the play worked well. We were told to expect a new ending, and I won’t spoil the effect, except to say it took the play into another dimension of terror. This is a great play, great performance, and well worth an hour of anybody’s time.
Written and Performed by Jack Brownridge Kelly
Directed by Roisin McCay-Hines
Cold, Dark Matters plays at Hope Theatre until 23rd March.
Further information and booking can be found here.
