Mr Jones, Greenside @ George Street Review
Written by Penny for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
At 9.15 on the morning of 21st October 1966, a huge wave of debris from a local coal mine swept down onto the Welsh village of Aberfan. Directly in its path was the local junior school. 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives. This new play by Liam Holmes examines the disaster and its aftermath from the perspective of Stephen Jones, a 17 year old lad whose life revolves around rugby, his friendship with slightly older nurse Angharad (a friendship he wishes could be more!) and his constant shadow – little brother Daffyd.
The writing is absolutely exceptional – the fact that Holmes wrote this while he was still at drama school is quite astonishing as the story is so brilliantly crafted that it suggests a maturity honed from years of experience. The script establishes the two characters through a series of encounters that are full of banter and some laugh-out-loud exchanges. We clearly see the slightly awkward side to this friendship – a difference in maturity between the sexes with Angharad, the older by a couple of years, much more emotionally intelligent than the young man who adores her. This easy communication is a stark contrast with heartfelt monologues that frame these lighter scenes, in which Stephen is desperately trying to talk to somebody who appears to have shut down completely.
A self-proclaimed local rugby “superstar”, one of the most striking moments comes when Stephen is recreating his penalty kick triumph in an attempt to impress Angharad. After his dramatic re-enactment (one that was even more dramatic in proud little brother’s account, Angharad tells him), he proudly announces that because of his performance, “History has been made in Aberfan”, a jarring foreshadowing of what is about to happen.
Michael Neri’s direction has a great pace. Often the two characters will speak very quickly and talk over each other – you may not catch every word they say but you certainly catch every meaning. He balances this with well-placed pauses, letting the impact of the words hit and sink in.
As well as writing the piece, Liam Holmes also plays Stephen with Mabli Gwynne as Angharad. Their performances are perfectly pitched, moving from good natured banter to anger, horror and heartbreak. They are utterly convincing as these two young people whose lives have been absolutely ripped apart by unimaginable tragedy.
As the play ends, Stephen reaches out to the unseen person again, one more attempt to try to break down the barrier of silence that has gone up between them. It’s a visceral and painful outburst and I defy anybody not to be moved by the raw emotion being played out on stage.
Mr Jones is one of the strongest pieces of drama that I have seen at the Fringe. It is a masterclass in writing, directing, and acting. It is is a must-see show for anybody who appreciates the power of theatre and exceptional storytelling.
Mr Jones starts at 1130 and runs for 55 minutes at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) until Saturday 23rd August. Find out more and book here.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
