Friday 11 September 2020

ONLINE MONOLOGUE REVIEW: Cede - The Lockdown Theatre Company, London.


Yesterday I watched three short monologues back to back from the online theatre company headed by Rohan Candappa called Lockdown Theatre. The company has produced about 20 monologues during these last few months and have uploaded them all for free on their YouTube channel.

Written by Rohan Candappa and performed by Nell Hardy, this is something conspiracy theorists will absolutely love. First though, a short intro to the piece and the company by Hollywood actress, Marina Sirtis. I have to say I thought that was a wind-up or very clever deep-fake in itself.. yet something else for the conspiracy theorists to get to grips with - but actually it seemed genuine.

However, Hardy is seemingly concealed inside a metallic spaceship-like structure.... (no she isn't- it's a room in her house!), and she is trying to tell us - quite convincingly - that the internet and cyberspace are inventions of vsiting aliens as a way of controlling and observing us. Her arguments are rational and have the right amount of the ring of truth about them to make sane men take them seriously, and Hardy's persistent and paranoid manner, despite it being quite irritating after a while, is all the more realistic because of it.  She seems to be speaking quite naturally and not having learned a speech to 'perform' - which is surely the measure of a good actress?!

The piece is strngely compelling even though deep down we all know it's a load of nonsense. Nicely performed.

Guest Reviewer - Pink Davies
on - 10//9/20

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