The fringe season at the Nottingham New Theatre kicked off last night with Infirmity which certainly set the standard very high for the shows to follow.
Infirmity is written and directed by Nottingham students Boo Jackson and Tom Heath and follows Charlotte (Emma McDonald) and Connor (Ben Williamson) as they try to save their relationship through the use of couples councillor, Peter (Will Berrington). The play follows the entire counselling session with flashbacks to key points in their relationship from their student days to present day – a clever device used to brilliant effect as it allows the audience to really get to know these likeable characters whilst adding comic relief when the counselling session gets more tense later on.
McDonald and Williamson displayed great skill in bringing this likeable couple to life. They were very believable and had the audience rooting for them within minutes despite their bickering that served as the play’s opening. The sweeter moments between the pair were even meet with aww’s from the audience. Williamson’s comedic timing in particular must be commended for filling the studio with laughter, helped along by Berrington’s aged counsellor (‘You should take the time get out of the Facebook and talk to each other’). Extracting a laugh from the intimate audience that the fringe season provides is by no means easy so the entire cast (and of course the script) must be highly commended.
There were a few sticky moments where a line was missed or repeated but this was well covered by the cast and can easily be attributed to the fact that it was opening night. The play was short (running for less than an hour) but fully explored the relationship without repetition and left the audience satisfied with a well thought out and moving conclusion which caused a few tears to be shed.
Infirmity is a great piece of original writing, full of laughter and heart, performed by a cast who make it even more so. I certainly look forward to what Jackson and Heath do next.
9/10
George McGuire
‘Infirmity’ runs from 17th-18th November in the New Theatre Studio A. For more info, click here.
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