There has
always been a strong market for new writing in Liverpool and Break A Leg
Productions in association with Bill Elms is leading the field with producing
quality theatre, encouraging regular theatregoers and new audiences. Their
latest offering with new play Blood Runs Deep brings a television
suspense-thriller flavour to the stage. This is no mean feat given a static
set, a few sound effects and lighting of the on/off kind. There was a good
buzz around Liverpool’s Unity theatre which is the ideal space for this newborn play. The later eight pm start also gave an adult feel to a grown-up
drama. Written by David Paul and Emma Culshaw, it’s still a bit raw around the
edges in this world premiere but that only added to the occasion.
The play
examines family in detail and specifically takes the theory of nature versus nurture
to another level, drilling down into DNA and whether you can ever escape the
‘sins of the father’. All families have their secrets and this family is no
different, except…it’s a big one.
There is an
experienced cast of four who work well together negotiating the set that stretches
right across Unity end stage, representing a small flat with defined living,
kitchen and dining areas. Clues to the period are apparent (vaguely nineties) but
not specific from the décor and this was a problem in the first act as it was
unclear from the dialogue, although those with a keen ear for music may have
thought it obvious from the song choices. I found it a bit distracting trying
to work it out. Time changes need a little more than lights going brighter to
be fully understood whether it’s moments later or the next day. Some nice
touches such as a bulky portable television set with cassette player added a
little humour.
Alice
Merivale bounces onto the stage as eighteen-year old Zoe and while she gives
one of the best performances, especially in act II, I just didn’t believe she
was only eighteen. This could work, as she’s far from naïve, but the school
uniform with bum-skimming culottes was out of place (and time) giving a vaguely
inappropriate 70s feel that was unnecessary to the plot, given she had her
blouse open most of the time. Zoe managed to utilise a well-placed cushion to
preserve her modesty and looked younger when she appeared in her jeans. Zoe’s serial
killer-film enthusiast boyfriend Jake (Brandon McCaffery) made a more
believable troubled teenage son of Karen (Emma Vaudrey). Vaudrey plays worn-out
single mum Karen with a downtrodden ease from the first time she enters,
kicking off her flat shoes at the front door and sinking into a bottle. There
is some great characterisation and lovely moments with her son. She is above
all a mother but also a very troubled woman with a dark past. This plays out
mostly in her scenes with John Schumacher playing Greg. He brings an
understated class performance to the table with his moody, dark yet sometimes
trusting character. You never know which way he is going to go which adds
hugely to the suspense.
To sum Blood
Runs Deep up it is secrets and lies. The story is edgy with enough suspense to
keep you guessing until the end. Merivale and McCaffery, as Zoe and Jake, make
for interesting watching and if they have not quite found their stage chemistry,
in this only second performance, they soon will. This is a modern thriller with
a classical Film Noir feel. It goes very dark at times. It’s both challenging
and entertaining. Not one for the kids!
Reviewer - Barbara Sherlock
on - 12/10/18
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