Writer: David MacGregor
Director: Cara Crozier-Cole
This enjoyable one-act play offers comedy and drama in equal measure. As two married couples prepare to go out to a Halloween party from one of their homes, they drink a mysterious blue wine the hosts have brought back from Peru. It’s said to compel people to tell the truth.
By this point, we’ve already witnessed that one marriage is in trouble, with Lauren (Amy Kennedy) expressing ennui with dependable but unexciting husband Phil (Oscar Chandler).
There’s a good routine around the costumes for the party, with Claire (Poppy Hill) sporting an elaborate outfit as Elizabeth I. In a neat casting tweak, the character Ridley becomes Riley (Alice Robinson), adding the dynamic that one of the couples is same-sex.
Riley has barely entered into the spirit of the occasion, being dressed as a doctor, the role she plays for a living. When Phil and Lauren belatedly don their outfits, they are a cowboy and a witch respectively. That the young cast are all playing middle-age characters only adds to the fun.
After drinking the wine, Claire reveals her own sexual frustration and Riley learns some shocking truths about her meddling mother and unexceptional son. From there, the revelations keep coming, some comedic and others more poignant.
The players give a confident, pacey ensemble performance, with Amy Kennedy providing a gentle lead and setting the tone well. Exeter University Theatre Company have made a good choice of play to showcase their talents and this production does them much credit.
Runs until 26 August 2023 | Image: Contributed
1 Comment
Just wanted to say Thank you so much for coming to see and reviewing our show! It means a great deal to us. Enjoy the rest of the Fringe!