Instead of a World Premiere at the Southwark Playhouse of Philip Ridley's 'The Beast Of Blue Yonder', the cast have now been given the opportunity of performing online world premiere monologues by Ridley as the theatres are closed and digital productions seem to be the only medium available at the moment. 'Star' performed by Joseph Potter, is the 10th such monologue so far, which have been being shown on the wearetramp.com website each week.
In this particular monologue we are taken on a journey of happiness and bliss, to a tragedy of Shakespearean proportion inside the 30 minute running time of the monologue. He, the narrator, is proudly showing off his engagement ring. He is ecstatic and in love. His boyfriend, sorry fiance, Kean, and he, along with their best friend, Talia, went out yesterday evening to celebrate. Before that however, he and Kean went to the woods that morning to take some art photographs; that's his job, he's a photographer.
Back to the hear and now, and he relates this, as well as the story of them going to the park just this afternoon, and Kean going to buy and ice-cream, and then suddenly disappearing...
Potter's voice goes from euphoric to powerful, to angry, to impassioned and manic and his voice gets faster and his thoughts get more blurred and intermingled... is everything all right?
Why has he ended up in the local A+E looking for Kean? why has Talia also been brought to A+E? Why are other people all being treated for similar symptoms? Why is he feeling very hot, dizzy and confused? What's the common denominator, and how will it all end?
In our current situation with the world grappling with the coronavirus, pandemic, infection, social distancing, etc; this piece serves as a warning to all, and shows just how quickly and easily one person can infect many... and not just anonymous passers-by either, but those we love: friends and family.
Directed by Wiebke Green and performed by Joseph Potter, this was a hair-raising rollercoaster tour-de-force performance which was gripping and frightening in equal measure. The acting was first rate, even though I wanted to switch the computer off, or try and pretend that it wasn't really happening... I wanted to scream myself, scream at the futility and injustice of it all. Surely the only true measure of a brilliant performance is the audience's emoting and believing. I just sat, silently staring at the blank computer screen for at least 10 minutes after the monologue finished. I simply couldn't move.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 7/6/20
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