My Ex

‘My Ex’ tells the story of three, very different, married couples who all recently decided to buy a new house in an upmarket cul-de-sac. A few weeks after they move in, one of the couples invites the others to a ‘get-to-know-each-other’ dinner party. Each individual person knows there is something special about the evening from the beginning, but as the conversations develop before and after dinner, they all end up getting to know more than they bargained for. 

‘My Ex’, like many plays performed by Bonkers Theatrical had a small cast, comprising of 6 performers. Penelope, the hostess, was played by Jane Walker, who stepped in last-minute due to illness within the cast. Despite having the script in hand, Jane delivered a confident and engaging performance, cleverly concealing the script and maintaining the flow of the character. The first guest to arrive to the dinner party, is Susie. Adele Jamookeeah played the role well, presenting Susie as a bit ditzy and oblivious to the chaos unfolding around her. Susie is soon introduced to Penelope’s husband, Paul (Daniel Fortune), an obliging husband, trying to please all the guests in his house. The next guest arriving is Professor Geoffry (Alan Galway) ahead of his anxious, stuidious wife, Alice (Michaela Clement-Hayes). Alan brought a sense of wisdom to his role, until Act Two, when his drunken antics stole the show with unexpected comedic moments. Michaela brought to life her character with her no-nonsense yet observant attitude, encouraging Paul to study the guests’ behaviours to uncover some hidden truths. Along with Alice, the final guest to arrive was Andy, played by Seb Goss. Seb really had you believing he was a womanising entrepreneur and although Andy is currently married to Susie, he can’t help himself, trying to make a move on the hostess Penelope, much to her initial disgust! 

The twists of each of the characters previously being married to each other brought humour to the play, especially with some characters tiptoeing around the subject (Susie and Paul) and others trying to hide their disgust for each other (Alice and Paul), and all trying to hide the fact they have met prior to this evening’s soiree. 

While the cast clearly worked hard to develop their characters under the direction of Mark Walker, there were moments, in my opinion, where the physical portrayal didn’t quite align with the script’s descriptions. Nonetheless, the ensemble delivered a lively and engaging performance. 

It was evident Mark had a clear vision for his direction. There was a good use of the space and props, with the play set in the lounge area of Penelope and Paul’s home. Even with multiple conversations happening simultaneously, Mark’s staging ensured the audience’s attention was always guided to the right moment. The storyline was easy to follow, and the pace kept the audience engaged throughout.  

One of the standout qualities of Bonkers Theatrical is how Mark chooses the plays that suit the smaller theatre. They way he stages each production makes you feel like you are present in the same room as where the action is taking place which is further enhanced by the natural sound with no microphones required for the performers, preventing there being an imbalance with the sound. 

With regard to the costumes, each character had their own style which complemented their personalities. Each character was very different, creating the perfect personalities for an entertaining dinner party. 

It was a job well done by all of the cast and creatives and an enjoyable evening. 

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