'Buckled' is a one act, 60-minute rollercoaster of a series of linear scenelets in the lives of Callum, a thirty-something history teacher, his recovering alcoholic mother, and his childhood best friend, good-time girl, Ruby.
Written and directed by Helen Jeffery, we feel that this piece of theatre is something rather personal to her, it is written and performed with a tightness and precision that allows only one interpretation. The writing however is not particularly conventional, as Jeffery intermingles with three different writing / performance styles.
We have poetic choral speaking direct to the audience; we are given monologues which again break down the fourth wall and the character speaks to their (unseen) audience; and then there is the conventional concept of performing behind a fourth wall. It shouldn't work - but somehow it does!
With each short scene we learn something new about one or more of the three of them, and the action hinges around Callum's imminent wedding and whether or not he would be able to invite both his mum and Ruby to the occasion since they both have drinking problems and whilst one is doing her best to sort her life out by joining the AA etc, the other lives in denial, seeing booze as a way of having a good time.
A bare stage with just a couple of chairs and a small table was used throughout, and the play begins with punchy upbeat music telling us "what do you want to do - get loaded and have a good time". As we go along a screen on the back wall announces each small scene by giving it a title - a hint / clue to the scene's content and intent, and we move from drinking for pleasure, and the selfishness of drinking, through to the consequences of alcoholism on not only themselves but those around them.
The dialogue mixes some highly comedic moments with moments of real tenderness, and the further into the play you go the more emotional charged it becomes. The end of the play offers hope, but does not give closure.
Tracy Spencer plays Maggie, Callum's mum, whilst Callum is Al Bollands, and his best friend Ruby is portrayed by Morgan Cerys-Holland. The three were absolutely excellent, we truly believed their characters and stories bringing a sensitivity and genuineness to the script through deft and nuanced performances.
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 21.3.25
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