Four Real - A Series of One Act Plays

Darlington Theatre Players’ season of one act plays offers something for everyone, with a great variety of short plays, all of good quality, which together give us a well-rounded evening of entertainment.

Opening the evening is the very short piece, Believe by Jean Blasier, directed by Dean Michael, in which a troubled young woman approaches a psychiatrist to share her closely guarded secret; Millie can see terrible events before they happen. Feeling a little like an episode of the Twilight Zone, this nicely directed vignette features Jess Grant as Milly and Steve Maloney as Doctor Preston. Both actors are strong and convincing and work well together. The show features effective sound design by Guy Jackson and the director Dean Michael, with effective lighting by Devlin Turbin.

After a short pause to reset, we launch into the powerful drama Queens, by Kristen Doherty and directed by Rebecca McRae. Running at just under an hour this ensemble piece brings to life the six wives of Henry the Eighth. Set in purgatory, this historical reimagining highlights the legacy of the Tudor Queens. At the centre of the piece is Chloe Wiggers as The Fool, a character who controls the action, and a highly animated performance by Chloe Wiggers. The performance features not one but two Henry VIIIs. Gavin Crane plays Henry perpetually in purgatory, while Chris McCray plays Dream Henry (the Henry from real life). Both men work hard to portray a dislikable character.

Very much an ensemble piece, the remaining performers play multiple roles as women in the court of Henry the Eighth, most playing one of the Queens plus various women of the court. Helen Kerr is a very sympathetic Catherine of Aragon, Joanna Tyler is an intelligent and empathetic Anne Boleyn, Brianna Skender is convincing as the much-loved Jane Seymour. Hetty Lobegiger brings strength of character to Anne of Cleves, Abigail Letts brings youth and impulsivity to Kathryn Howard, while Anastasia Doyle is a mature Katherine Parr, who knows how to play the game. The cast is completed with effective performances from Verity Lux and Casey Smith. 

Queens features strong sound design by Chris McRae, lighting by Devlin Turbin and interesting costume design by Chloe Wiggers, Teneal Thompson and cast. The central design piece, a Tudor throne was designed and constructed by Zach Maloney, Steve Maloney and Amanda Maloney. Stage movement was very stylised and effective as choreographed by Sophie David.

After interval, one act play Sure Thing by David Ives, directed by AJ Giltrow, follows a couple’s interactions over multiple repetitions of their encounter in a café. It features three of each of the characters, in a high paced, quarter hour show. Lovely performances from Candace Preston, Natalie Wiles, and Clara Lee as Betty, nicely matched by Jack Buckmaster, Jake Schmid and Harrison Ricci as Bill. Simply set from a design by the director, it features lighting design by Devlin Turbin.

The final show of the night is a short musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Breanne Lucas and musically directed by Chris McRae. 21 Chump Street is a send up of the similarly named 21 Jump St, where youthful police officers placed undercover in schools expose drug dealing and abuse. Featuring a talented band, the piece is nicely narrated by Aaron Lucas.

Mark Obi plays naive Justin, who falls in love with undercover cop, Naomi, beautifully played by Grecia Corbalá, and Justin will do anything to win her affections. The small ensemble, Jackson Lucas, Cortni Cooper, Daniel Nievelstein and Jessica Anthony, sing with expertise and dance superbly in this quarter hour show.

Fabulous Sound designed by Guy Jackson, strong lighting, again by Devlin Turbin and appropriate scenic art by Ian Jowett.

A very varied selection, Four Real is a great sample bag of theatre and well worth a look.

Kimberley Shaw