AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: After Life - Harlequin Theatre, Northwich.

This contemporary play, written by Jack Thorne, based on the cult Japanese film by Hirokazu Kore-eda, asks a very simple question: If you had to spend the whole of eternity with only one special memory from your life, what would it be? Set in a bureaucratic half-way house, a kind of waiting room, through which all the newly deceased must pass in order to choose their memory before being passed on; the play starts with a team of boiler-suited Memory Assisters or 'Guides' who tell us, the audience, that we have just died and we have three days to choose this memory. It is surreal and abrasive, but also arresting and intriguing. 

The play is a mix of the bizarre, with some truly hilarious "killer" one-liners, and true pathos. We feel real sympathy for those who find this process difficult. Yet it never becomes too maudlin or stuck in one person's life history too long. It is cleverly written and sustains our interest and our humour throughout. My one criticism with the writing is that there are too many false endings to the play. One is comedic, two perhaps a little too dramatic, but more than that is just overkill.

This evening's production was at Northwich's Harlequin Theatre, a bijou converted industrial unit in the centre of town. The stage set was minimal, nay bare. The poorly whitewashed walls of the actual theatre itself was the set, which was ameliorated only by a desk, a couple of stools, and in one scene, an A-frame ladder. It was empty, and frankly looked uncared-for. It was adequate, but such a minimalist approach did not somehow seem suited to this particular cast nor the style of directing. Perhaps a sharper and more dynamic lighting design might have helped. 

The space, in fact, was too large for director Keira Bradley's vision. Cast had to enter through one of two rear doors in the space, walk to their "mark", and then start talking /acting. A lot of time was wasted with cast coming on and off stage, ostensibly not in the acting area. The pace overall, was very slow too. Hopefully this will pick up as the play runs, but actors were not picking up on their cues, and there were long unnecessary pauses all the way through, and one was left wondering why. Several of the humorous one-liners didn't land, and much of the humour in the play was lost. That was such a shame. However, the poignant moments were nicely played. These, however would have had more impact had the audience been allowed to laugh beforehand. There were a few titters this evening, but nothing more.

Individually, this large cast were very good, providing nice characterisations, with interesting back-stories. The characters were nicely defined, and there was a good balance in their characterisations. But there was a distinct lack of an ensemble feel this evening. Again, this was a real shame, as this seemed not to be working in their favour. 

The entire cast worked well within the restraints of the requirements of this particular production, and despite my slight misgivings about the choice of directorial style, managed to produce a solid and interesting, watchable, and thought-provoking piece of theatre; and if the pace is picked up, it will become a very good piece of theatre indeed. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 8.11.23