Presented as part of this year's Greater Manchester Fringe Theatre Festival, and very nobly collecting money and sanitary products for homelessness charities at the same time, this 50 minute play from the pen of writer / director Joe Walsh aims to draw our attention to and allow us to better understand those 'invisible ones' who most unfortunately have nowhere to call home other than the streets of Manchester and Salford.
The play, Frozen Peas In An Old Tin Can flirts between gritty realism and fantasy and in so doing creates a strange world where three disparate homeless people inhabit the same corner of a street, one with a guitar and aspirations of becoming a rock star, another a bag of nerves and quite nerdy, whilst the third is strong-willed, hard-nosed, and doesn't take any nonsense. Or at least that is what we are given to believe at the start of the play.
As the play progresses we learn more about each of the three. Their pasts, why they came to be homeless, their aspirations, their fears and mostly we learn, for all of their bravado, just exactly how vulnerable they feel and have become. They dream of forming a Rock Band between them, and, finding an old tin can with some frozen peas inside in one of the rubbish bins, they decide this is a good musical instrument and so, armed with this and a guitar, somehow become an internet sensation and start trending on Twitter.
They dream of earning enough money to take them to the coast, Southport. And when they do finally receive a lot of money, and start to share it three ways, the final touching reveal leaves a lump in your throat and is excellently portrayed.
The play is performed in the Beer Garden of The King's Arms, and although little, but insufficient covering was available to the audience, the cast had to perform in the open air, and this afternoon's weather was far from clement meaning the poor actors were drenched and cold. However, this being a play about three homeless people, then in actuality, this disadvantage to the performers became a distinct advantage to the realism and setting.
Paul Tomblin plays Barney, a young man who had all of his life ahead of him until circumstances conspired against him. His very childish squeamishness over sanitary pads etc though was very unrealistic. Playing opposite him was Leah Gray as Sarah, a young woman seemingly in control and doing everything she can to hold it all together. Her affection for Barney was very well measured, and she was certainly the strongest performer of the three. Craig Hodkinson as Derek made for a quiet and sobering father-figure of the group. Quiet, broody, and introvert. His short soliloquy was very touching. Vocally though he needed to up his volume somewhat, especially when fighting a losing battle with the weather!
As I intimated earlier, the script is a little strange; flirting between realistic situations full of emotional turmoil, a whole dollop of totally improbable circumstance and fantasy, and some comedy added for good measure; although some of the comedy lines did seem a little forced. With a few more rewrites, this could be a very strong and emotional piece of theatre. As it is, it cannot really make it's mind up just where it wants to sit. Kudos to all though for continuing and braving the inclemency of our wonderful British summer, and raising not just our awareness of but also money for those who really do call the street their home.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 27/7/19
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