Overdue
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Until Saturday 16th September 2017
Written by Arabella Arnott
Directed by Matt Jamie
Designed by Alison Ashton
Arabella
Arnott’s Overdue
is an emotional trip that confronts some of the aspects of the human condition
without going down the finger wagging “issue-based” route. A strong cast and
intelligent writing have produced a powerful yet still entertaining drama which
looks at the consequences of decisions.
 |
| Christopher Price |
We
had marked Arabella’s cards as one to watch after Life
After appeared earlier in the year. Overdue shows a maturity in its
handling of possibly controversial decisions without casting any judgement. The
audience finds themselves recognising the characterisation without being asked
to discriminate between good and bad.
 |
| Rosie Stancliffe |
Rosie
Stancliffe is able to show a perceptive range of emotions as Beth, a wife who
needs space. Unfortunately for her, John, her husband, responds by closing in
and emotionally suffocating her. Teacher Beth might go for walks during her
summer holiday but John keeps sending her regular texts. Christopher Price
plays the confused husband who doesn’t understand why he keeps getting pushed
away. The pair of actors are convincing as a couple that obviously love each
other but are not behaving like they’re reading off the same page.
 |
| Skyla Pearce |
Beth
meets up with a couple of characters on her walks. There is the young teen mum
Izzie who nurtures her 3 month old son. Skyla Pearce makes her professional
debut and she got a number of reactions out of the audience as she invaded
Beth’s personal space. Shortly afterwards Jack, played by Benjamin Michael
Smith, appears and seems to easily makes friends with Beth. He is aware of
Izzie and this freaks Beth out a little bit.
 |
| Benjamin Michael Smith |
The
play then follows Beth as she looks at both her current situation and the
decisions that she was expected to make in the past. Rosie Stancliffe manages
to elicit empathy as the sometimes awkward wife. Both Benjamin Michael Smith
and Skyla Pearce make promising debuts and they had there chance to make an
impact of the story. Christopher Price’s John was a natural foil for the
prickly Beth.
The
show’s setting in the centre of the re-located Alphabetti Theatre was intimate
and enabled Arnott’s play to flourish. The tiered seating ensured a good view
of the action for all. This is a great production to launch Newcastle’s newest venue.
Review
by Stephen Oliver.
Tickets:
Overdue is at Newcastle’s Alphabetti
Theatre from Monday 4 to Saturday 16 September 2017 and
is suitable for 13+. Tickets are £9 full price; £7 concessions with Pay What
You Decide performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/194686
Overdue is
also at George Street Social (Newcastle)
on Monday 11 September and tickets are £5. For more
information or to book tickets visit www.coracleproductions.com
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