The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
George Ryder and Brodie Husband
Directed by Emily Prosser-Davies
Linnet Theatre
Jack Studio
Star rating: 4
Five first year students who don’t know each other arrive at a shared house and the group dynamics are complicated. It’s a strong idea for a 95 minute straight-through play and it’s tautly written.
Bex (Emily Dilworth) is, at least on the surface, a knowing, confident good-time girl of some experience. Charlotte (Katie Emanuel) is, very different: nervous, Christian and initially keener on work and peace and quiet than drink and drugs. Later her caution is thrown to the winds and Emanuel really nails the contrast and makes it plausible.
Luke (George Ryder, co-writer of the play) is at the start worldly like Bex and Henry (Brodie Husband. co-writer) pretends to be a slobbish buffoon but actually emerges, as the play goes on, as an articulate man who knows about poetry. None of them is a stereotype.
But Ollie J Edwards gets the best role. As Kane he is a non-drinking studious, decent type who supports (and fancies) Charlotte or so it seems. Actually he is a dark – shockingly dark – horse. Edwards plays him with naturalistic nuance and it’s good to watch.
This well-directed quintet of accomplished actors play impressively off each other too. There’s a lot of alert listening and response and the aggressive arguments are convincing.
The low budget set works well. The room contains only a sofa (stage business with cushions) a table and a mini kitchen. A false back wall incorporates a locked door behind which is a chilling mystery and the main auditorium entrance is used to add depth as usual at the Jack Studio.
Long before we get to the real drama, the inconsequential awkwardness when the five first meet at the beginning is deftly observed,
Linnet Theatre is a new company and clearly one which knows its business.
