Relativity (Rehearsed Reading), Upstairs at the Gatehouse Review
Reviewer - Cathie
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
There are few better places on a rainy Sunday evening to escape to than a cozy pub. For my Sunday evening I was not only visiting the fabulous Gatehouse pub in Highgate but was also treated to a rehearsed reading of the play Relativity!
Written by the superbly talented Jamie Rycroft and Joe Venable, the play’s premise is fairly bursting with scientific whimsy. “In a world where people can break scientific laws just by understanding them, Zadie Sierra works with the government to lock away the rule-breakers: whether it's thermodynamics, friction or even gravity.“ Straightlaced and sternly practical Zadie is at first seemingly joyfully dedicated to upholding the Orwellian 1984 style government in its iron grip on the populace. However, as the story unfolds and events occur, she is forced to choose between family and her career, between following the law and doing what is right, and just how far she is willing to go in order to stay true to her core self and save her sister. The story is very well fleshed out for its short running time and has many quirks and specific devices used to augment the story. I would absolutely love to read this as a full novel. The world building is reminiscent of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Bleak Expectations, 1984 and Neverwhere.
Although based in the laws of science, this show mostly manages to make the material accessible and understandable to the majority of the audience even with basic science knowledge. Much of the plot hinges on Zadie and Oriana’s search for the 'Theory of Everything' that could destroy or rebuild society as they know it. In order to find this information they work with Ocean, a card trick magician who can bend the rules of probability; and Griffin, a dentist with a terrifying attitude to the laws of biology.
Director Lydia Sax has found a fabulous cast who really shine even in a rehearsal setting. Zadie (Niamh Drumgoole) and Oriana (Emelye Moulton) have a natural light hearted chemistry together and are very believable as squabbling sisters. Dimwitted Ted (Aron Cynan) who serves as a minor antagonist with some strange masochist tendencies was played with serious charm and substantial flair. The character is a well written linchpin whose relationships with Zadie and fabulously camp evil MP Fabian (Alex Crook) manage to show much of the society the show is based in with rapier wit and sly moral commentary. MP Fabian was my favourite character and so gleefully villainous it was refreshing to watch. Without this character being so unapologetically sinister and nasty the story would be half as entertaining. My other favourite character was free spirited criminal magician Ocean (Ellana Gilbert) who’s light hearted and vulnerable performance really worked well to propel the plot forwards and in inventively entertaining ways. Her queer romantic relationship with Oriana was very well fleshed out and definitely rounds out the storyline well. Finally was rule breaking, finger obsessed dentist Griffin (Toby Baddeley). His slow evolution from minor criminal to reluctant hero was as hilarious to watch as his globe trotting accents.
This rehearsal reading was a promising start but the show still has a long way to go. I would be very interested in seeing how they would develop the set to reflect all the interesting events that occur and hopefully how they’d be able to pull it off without overreliance on CGI green screens.
Most of the plot and script are sound but I do think it needs some tightening, especially toward the end of the show where Nietzsche would have a field day at the anarchy onslaught of experiences.
I would enjoy seeing the stage directions narrator given a pride of place role similar to the narrator in Rocky Horror or Bleak Expectations as I think it would definitely enhance the experience of this show. The tongue in cheek nature of the show also means the opportunities for hilarious audience interaction will be many and fabulous. I would also enjoy seeing the cast use the space of the seating area to greater effect. Although I would strongly suggest this without use of food based humour.
This was definitely a joyful high calibre performance and I definitely see a lot of potential in this play to become a fringe favourite. I sincerely think this show would work well as a radio play on a par with Bleak Expectations or Neverwhere. I thoroughly look forward to coming back to seeing this show again in its next phase of development.
