It was my first time watching a performance in Hope Aria, and the size was perfect for a one woman show, holding about 40 audience members. The intimacy and exposure in this play demanded a smaller audience. It simply would not have had the same effect in a larger space.
Annie is a woman in her late twenties, struggling with a recent break-up and attempting to come to terms with her childhood traumas. As Annie says, ‘it’s hard being hard’. She has secrets, and she doesn’t know how to open up and tell her loved ones. She confides in us though, the audience, speaking directly to us for a large portion of the play. I was sitting on the front row, and Lois Mackie who played Annie gave me direct eye contact several times.
This is a generational production, written by mother Christine Mackie, and performed by daughter Lois Mackie. Along with the director, Kayleigh Hawkins, I am happy to say that this was an all-female production. Christine Mackie’s writing is superb, full of wit and humour, but also riddled with underlying sadness. This is a play that speaks volumes without treating the audience as though they are stupid. Being semi-autobiographical, Christine Mackie clearly has a personal connection to her writing, creating a script rich in emotion and truth.
This was helped greatly by actor, Lois Mackie. Her performance did not only tell the audience how she was feeling, it was so emotive that we shared in her pain and anxiety. We felt along with her, and that is the mark of a truly wonderful actor. From the moment Mackie stepped onto the stage, we could see her complex emotions and well-formed character come to life. Even in her silences, we were all collectively gripped. We daren’t take our eyes off her. The 50 minute running time of this production seemed to pass quickly. Not once did I feel that the play dragged or lost momentum.
Director, Kayleigh Hawkins brought this script to life without complicating the performance. The setting and movements were simple, yet realistic and therefore extremely effective. It is clear that this hard-working trio worked well together and this relationship helped to create something superb.
Reviewer - Megan Relph
on - 18/7/19
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