Arts > Theatre

Absurd Person Singular @ Maddermarket

27/08/16

One of my ultimate pet hates is anything Christmas related when it is not in fact Christmas. Hearing the songs and seeing the adverts out of season drives me insane. However, the cast of last night’s performance have helped rid me of this grievance by delivering a refreshing representation of what really goes on behind closed (kitchen) doors during the festive season.

The audience was transported back to the early 1970’s where fabrics were garish, keeping up appearances was paramount and women knew their place. The character of Jane Hopcroft, played superbly by Harriet Watetrhouse, was the embodiment of 70’s housewife with her obsession with cleaning and her unquenchable desire to please her husband. Her character was both the perfect combination of adorable and pitiful teamed with a childlike naivety that the audience warmed to instantly.

Her husband Sidney Hopcroft, played by Trevor Burton, was an immensely awkward, clueless social climber who treats his wife like a second rate citizen. In order to move on up in the world he ensures he brown noses those of higher status; this, amongst several other characteristics caused a state of panic and anxiety every time he was on stage. I found him absolutely infuriating and ridiculous - in a good way!

Next up: The Jacksons. Geoffrey and Eva Adulterous and Unhinged. Their marriage was one without an ounce of love, care or respect for one and other. Eva Jackson, played by Laura Landamore, hurtled into the kitchen wielding anti-depressants, spitting venom about her husband all wrapped up in a bohemian vintage facade. I got the impression she was a happy, eccentric, self absorbed hippy before falling into the clutches of Geoffrey who subsequently broke her. The honesty of her character was quite uncomfortable to watch at times as her situation became more and more desperate as the play progressed. I had a lot of sympathy for her character.

Geoffrey Jackson, on the contrary, received no sympathy whatsoever from myself when it all came crashing down around him. He strutted around in his platforms and bellbottoms announcing proudly claiming to have seduced women of all shape and size whilst swilling whiskey in a crystal glass. This loathsome man was played brilliantly by Christopher Neal, who took the character on a journey from playboy to pauper throughout the play.

Double barrel, double trouble! We meet the Brewster-Wright’s who represent the cream of the crop, the top of the food chain and the envy of all those around them. Ronald Brewster-Wright a man with lots of lovely money and absolutely zero common sense or social understanding, was delivered superbly by Christopher Whitley. His electrocution was so well played; a truly comic moment midway through.

For me though, the show was stolen by Julie Benfield who played Marion Brewster-Wright. The portrayal of the unravelling of an alcoholic ‘has been’ blonde bombshell was so much fun to watch. Marion had so many great one liners, put downs, judgements and insults (mainly directed at her husband) that had me laughing out loud. In the final scene she entered looking like a hot mess wearing a black lace nightgown, diamonds and make up that had been put on drunk/in the dark swigging from the gin bottle. I found it impossible not to love this character.

Absurd Person Singular gathered momentum seamlessly as the scenes followed on from one and other, it was relatively calm to begin with and an absolute zoo by the end! I was watching and laughing, thinking  ‘what the hell is going on?!’

This performance was an absolute credit to the Maddermarket - go and see it this weekend!