REVIEW | Fell, Chris Salt

Reviews

6 Oct

Reviewer - Bronagh

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

Fell is a haunting tale of two teenage boys, up a mountain in the rain… with a gun.

Lyle is a troubled schoolboy who has walked out of his normal life, up a mountain where he meets Jake whose life is nothing like Lyle’s. Jake is, in Lyle’s words, ‘a weird poacher mountain boy’ whereas he is more of a slightly awkward young teen who says the first thing that comes into his head. The next twenty-four hours are challenging and uncovers the challenges they have both been facing.

Fell is one of those plays where you feel all of the different layers coming away, knowing that we’re going to get a shock; in this case, the bombshell is related to something that Lyle has done, which wasn’t particularly hinted at throughout. There was a moment where Lyle hurriedly turned off the radio after hearing a certain news bulletin but I perceived that as him just not wanting to hear any more bad news as he was distressed enough. I was genuinely shocked at his confession; as we know, in some shows you figure it out halfway through but this was not the case for Fell.

Ned Cooper and Tom Claxton are brilliant casting; Ned’s awkward schoolboy who ends up wielding a rifle is unforgettable as is Tom’s ‘mountain boy’ who has had his share of tragedies. For all of their differences they do have their similarities… feeling alone and not knowing who they want to be. They’re both tragic characters, who we really do feel for. Although only set over twenty-four hours, we see their friendship evolve and blossom which is truly beautiful to watch. From snipping away at each other at the beginning to Jake’s protectiveness at the end is glorious. Not rushed, not abandoned altogether, just some wonderfully paced theatre.

A huge well done to the Creative Team who transformed the small Barons Court Theatre into mountainside shacks. The use of lighting and the sounds of nature make us feel like we are up there with Lyle and Jake. The short musical interludes where the set is changed around is a great touch and keeps the viewer engaged.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Fell and would urge anybody to see it before it closes. The story of Lyle and Jake was beautifully brought to life in a performance I will not forget for a long time.