Whose Life Is It Anyway?

A first for me! Not the play, but a visit to Sherborne. Just beautiful. It’s not my usual district but was very happy to be asked to step in and support this production as your usual Rep was away. A play I managed to catch a revival of in 2005 starring Kim Cattrall at the Harold Pinter Theatre. It made me very happy to see the play as originally intended.

Your venue was incredible, not the smallest I’ve been in, but certainly one with the biggest welcome. Thank you for that. Really nice to catch Martin at the beginning of the evening and to find out he’s waited 45 years to direct this play. Was it worth the wait? Well they say good things come to those who wait. How true that was of this evening. A very clever simple setting with each acting area defined and although a smallish stage, there was still plenty of space to move around without it feeling over crowded. It’s really not surprising this play gets a resurrection every few years.

It’s as relevant and thought provoking today as it was when first written. A simplistic storyline, a man questions his quality of life after a tragic accident leaving him paralysed from the neck down. He wishes to die, bringing conflict with his physician who sees their sole aim in life to preserve that life.

I must say this was a first class evening. It was excellent on every level. I found myself not making any notes and just enjoying the play and performers. I thought the direction was spot on. The pace was good from the off and maintained throughout. You could hear a pin drop in the hall. Everyone got so involved. I thought the scene changes were seamless. Very subtle lighting changes which depicted night and day and a blackout to establish a different day. This worked really well without trying to be clever.

Props were mostly authentic and not overdone. This left plenty of acting space and the entrances and exits were used really well. Characters were maintained right until they disappeared off stage. This is a bug bear of mine when characters get dropped as soon as backs are turned to the audience. This didn’t happen at all. All in all this was extremely well directed, especially one of the final scenes where nearly every character was on stage it never felt over crowded and smaller scenes were well defined with good shaping to them. I doubt you could have cast it any better. Everyone was so well cast and seemed so believable. I’m still convinced Geraldine Kershaw is a real QC. Well done.

Ken Harrison Hard to believe you’ve not acted before. Really? Some may think this task of just lying in bed motionless and only able to move your head easy. Wrong on every level. I think you displayed a huge amount of talent. You carried the bulk of the play on that head and I felt every word and expression was extremely well thought through. We were on that journey with you. Incredible pathos and yes there was some humour which you brought out perfectly. You certainly sent us all home with food for thought. I know I will remember this performance for a very long time. Congratulations.

Sister Shirley Anderson A good authoritative performance. Typical of the period boy could they be scary. I thought you were completely focused all through even when not involved in the scenes and just sat at your desk you still maintained that character throughout. You showed sympathy when needed and good timing for humour. Well done.

Kay Sadler I understand this was a first for this actress. Hopefully not the last. I loved the Naivety you displayed and really felt your frustration at John when he became just a bit annoying even though you were quite enjoying the attention. Really well done on your first performance.

John How we needed your character just to bring a little lightness into the storyline. Good young actor with good stage presence. I really enjoyed the humour you displayed. Well done.

Dr. Clare Scott I really enjoyed your performance. Very subtle and yet very telling with your expressions. We could certainly feel the wavering decision of whether this was the right thing or the wrong. Good stage presence and totally focussed throughout. Well done.

Dr. Michelle Emerson A very good actress. Again completely believable. Good projection of voice also. I liked your changes of costume even if it was under the hospital uniform. You kept a good pace going throughout your scenes. Well done. Sorry not to mention everyone by name but I think you get the gist. I really enjoyed this evening very much. Absolutely first class. So pleased you picked up good houses every night too. This is a play that will be remembered and thought about for a long time to come. Congratulations to everyone involved. Hope I get to see you all again.

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