Luke Barnes can write. Extremely well.
His delightfully accurate analogies immersed with crucial and
unapologetic scouse 'language' are spot on in his one man show, Bottleneck at
The Hope Street Theatre.
His tale of 14 year old Greg
whose life changes on that day in 1989, is told with aplomb and the
utmost of teenage importance by the tenacious Daniel Cassidy; and hats off to
him. One man/woman/dog shows can evoke a million varying opinions and mine is
that I have nothing but respect for solo story-telling. It requires nerve and great ability. Character definitions rely on well defined voices, sharp physicality
and an established unspoken agreement with the audience that we are in this
together yeah? Cassidy does not fail to deliver all of these under the
direction of Chantell Walker.
There are however, moments where flow is lost and I can't
help thinking his instinct would have served better than some of the assigned
choreography. His moments of repose are the most powerful. Barnes' words are
also enough. More than enough.
Fluidity is also occasionally absent with some untactful
technical elements. Difficult to say if these lay in the design or teething
problems, but would be remiss not to mention.
It is important what is happening here. That this beautiful
new space, Hope Street Theatre is now available and that stories as important
as this are being staged here. One in particular that will always need
telling. Thank you Hope Street, we have
been waiting for you. And thank you Luke Barnes.
You responded in an interview with Hampstead Theatre that
playwrights must 'earn the right to tell stories'. You certainly have.
Reviewer - Gillian Hardie.
on - 18/7/18
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