Director: Richard Vincent
Talking People is a show like no other. Three young actors are sitting on stage before it starts. Director Richard Vincent kicks things off, explaining the concept. Importantly, he reassures us that the ‘audience participation’ which some of us have been dreading is strictly non-scary. And it isn’t. If we want to respond when we’re invited to ask the characters questions, we can. And it doesn’t matter at all if we don’t.
It’s hard to say too much about the show without giving it all away. Suffice it to say the three young people are boyfriend and girlfriend, Harley and Lu, and Rosie, their mate from school days. Harley, we’re told, had started off in IT, but has left to pursue a career as a stand-up comic. How successful has he been so far? Now here’s the kicker. Director/manager Richard has a pack of cards. He’s going to select one. If it’s of high value, Harley’s career has really taken off. Tonight Harley scores a three. Likewise, the success of his relationship with Lu will depend on another chance pick of a card. Richard also carries around a little bag – his Bag of Pain. An audience member is asked to pull out an answer to his question about what Lu feels about their relationship. ‘Boredom’ is the Delphic response.
So the dynamics are set. Lu is keen to have a relationship which is perceived as successful. But she’s bored. Cross-examined by Richard, she improvises some telling details. Devoted Harley’s idea of demonstrating love is to buy yet another charm for her Pandora bracelet. At the start, Richard plays the part of a dispassionate therapist, asking telling questions, taking the conversation off in unexpected directions. Oh, and he can dictate who of the three hears or can’t hear the questions and responses to any particular question which makes for real thrills.
The atmosphere from time to time becomes electric, the audience sitting in stunned silence to hear how one of the three will respond to increasingly probing questions. The first half is the strongest, as revelations continue to shape our perceptions of them. Audience questions are strong. Asked about his male friends, Harley (Zack Morris) is diminished by admitting he’s really only got two, and one of those he hasn’t got much time for. You could almost wish to see this half all over again but with a different set of chance-dictated responses. It would be good to see Harley reveal his successful comic side. And what if he had a strong circle of men friends? How would Milly Zero play Lu if the cards dictated she really loved him?
There are no questions in the second half. We see the trio after an evening at a comedy club. Again, chance reveals whether Harley’s set has been a success. We’re interested to find out more about Rosie, who we’d learnt in the first half secretly loves Harley. We watch with bated breath as the pair get time alone. But Olivia Benjamin gets less to work with as Rosie. There’s a hint that she has a depth unmatched by superficial Lu – ‘You like books and things,’ Lu tries to reassure her. ‘Someone will love you for that.’ But this side of Rosie never gets a chance to be developed and she remains a depressed, rather hopeless figure. Altogether in this second half, it’s the characters’ limitations that get in the way. Other than some good plot twists – some great soap opera-like revelations keep us gasping – there just isn’t enough character development.
But for the most part, it’s an exhilarating ride and with different actors each night it’s an exciting premise.
Runs until 27 June 2025
