First Love is the Revolution

This was a bold choice for a play, as both the subject matter and style were demanding, and the production certainly challenged the conventions of what we expect from traditional amateur dramatics. Evidently inspired by Romeo and Juliet, the writer exchanged a forbidden relationship between the Montagues and Capulets for humans and foxes! Featuring highly absurd and often unapologetically provocative humour, the performers had the audience flitting between laughter, shock and intrigue.

Core to the play were the expertly crafted animal characterisations and the director and cast had clearly worked to develop animalistic mannerisms and gestures which brought naturalism to the performance and at times injected much needed humour. In contrast, the dysfunctional human family was depicted with rawness and heartache. All of the actors gave excellent and powerful performances drawing the audience into the tension of the piece. They worked exceptionally well together and had clearly developed trusting realtionships enabling them to show the raw emotion of the play.

The scenic elements were especially good, and the use of bark in the forest, which when it became wet filled the studio with a woodland aroma heightened the realism through the use of an additional sensory experience. The director’s creative decision to use a traverse stage led to action from all angles and immersed the studio audience into the plot and making them voyeurs on an illicit relationship. This increased the tension and anticipation as the show reached its inevitable tragic climax and I came away from the production with many questions which led to deep discussion on the way home! Well done to all on an excellent production.

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