Tonight’s show takes me back to the NT and the Lyttelton theatre to see “The Other Place”. Which opened on 8th October 2024 and is running at the NT until 9th November 2024. The show is written and directed by Alexander Zeldin, whose production of “Faith, Hope and Charity” back in 2019 I really enjoyed.
The show start time was an extremely early one at 18:30 so I was in my seat within the stall row L seat 15 by 18:15. Which I think has to be the earliest I have ever sat in a theatre for an evening performance. This is part of the ongoing trial that the NT has adopted. This production was having one 18:30 start time each week. The major Benji fit especially for this production in particular which had a running time of one hour twenty minutes with no interval meant that I was on out the theatre before 20:00.
The show opens with no immediate house light dim, the only sign that the show has started is the appearance of two out of the six characters. Within a few minutes we are presented with another three. We gradually learn that we are watching Chris (Tobias Menzies) the uncle to Issy (Alison Oliver). Chris wife Erica (Nina Sosanya) her son Leni (Lee Braithwaite) and Chris`s mate Tez/Terry (Jerry Killick). Everyone is awaiting the arrival of Annie (Emma D`Arcy) who is Issy Sister. Through the first section of the play we gradually learn some background to not only the characters but why they are all together. The reason is to scatter Issy and Annie dads and Chris`s bothers ashes. There seems to be lots of fiction caused by he arrival of Annie and she quickly adds to the issues by refusing to let her fathers Ashes be scattered. As the play moves through the middle and later stages we learn more about how the father died and also the relationship between Annie and Chris which stems from her childhood from when her dad committed sucuide in the garden of the same house his and Erica are now leaving in a renovating. As we learn the dark past of both the char enters and the house we expected a sinister end for someone and we this does come to furission at the final scene.
The set was fully static with no moving parts at all. Not even a rearrangement of main set pieces. It was a cross section of the back of the house. The same set shown in the view from my seat picture above was the set and the only set. All props were already within the set. The attention to detail on both the props and set staging was amazing and what I totally expect from a NT prodcution. No other theatre can do the attention to detail that the National does. From having real dirt to surround the partially renovated house and garden. To a real outdoor sensor security light which came on and off at the actors made their way from the inside to out. The set was so static and realistic that the actors did not use the wings to enter and exit the stage. Instead they walked from stage right past the first few rows and used the front stall auditorium entrance.
There were no scene changes throughout the whole show and as a result there was never a full black out instead the huge lightbox above the centre stage would angle and the stage lighting would dim. However the actors just continued to progress the scene and these moments would just extend the timeline of the play slightly so the narrative could move on. The lighting in enrol was god especially the lighting to direct the nighttime scenes within the garden which suddenly reavled some ultra realistic trees a a dark blue tinge to replicate the night sky.
Music and sound effects were used throughout the production to build tension and increase the drama of some of the more pivotial moments. Especially at the the end when the music build and builds to a defining volume while Chris starts to break down. The use of this music and sound effects along with the ongoing election that something tragic will occur really did build some very dramatic movements. Especially in the final part which did get an auidable reaction from the audience, even know we knew it was coming it was still shocking.
The play was written so well especially the way to developed not only the characters but the overall back story that led us to this one day/night for this family. There are some very comical one liners and direction which are a welcome mood lightener in what is quite a trametic play. A paly which tackles some very diffulct subjects not only around sucide but the impact that a sucide has on young family members, the invludeuls who find them. And the logistics and practicacalitys of dealing with a family member who has died let alone though sucide. The play does not shy away from these very challenges topics and instead confronts them head on.
The whole play gave you the feel and approach that you were peering through the window of a real authentic family home. This feel of peering through a real family home was up held in lots of different ways. The first was the writing as the script and delvery of it was so authentic. The long pauses while people were texting, the pause while characters went out of vision for the audience. It is these pausing which occur in real life and normally are written out of plays. The fact the set didn’t move and that someonetimes actors were out of the vision of the audience of behind a glass door in the garden. Also added to the authentic feel. The lack of blackout and no actual scene changes also added to this authentic feel. As we were with the characters the whole time and saw their day from start to finish.
All of these points gave the authentic feel that the play was going for. Along with these points the actors were also outstanding and as mentioned earlier had to deliver these roles. I will now comment on each of the six actors as each deserter there own dedicated mention.
Starting with Annie portrayed by Emma D`Arcy who from the outset was able to highlight the trauma and issues that Annie was going through and had been. Many stages throughout the play Annie is obviously so damaged and emotionally scared from the events of her childhood. Emma is able to deliver these sections so well.
The next character and actor to mention is Chris played by Tobias Menzies who initially doesn’t seem as emotionally damaged but we son learn throughout the paly the effect that the events have had on him and Tobias is able to hint at this throughout the start of the play brilliantly. The finale section of Chris medley shooting at the audience was so impactful.
Issy is played by Allison Oliver who does a brilliant job of portraying what at first seems nieve character which dlevops into raw emotion which varying outbreaks emotional brilliance Allison.
Erica is played by Nina Sosanya who you will recognise from stage and screen including Love actually. As the wife of Chris she did not have much opportunity to show the same emotion as the first charecter and actors mentioned however was able to portray the character of the wife who is just trying to get everything and ever in to progress and survive, in some cases literally survive.
The next character to mention is Terry or Tez played by Jerry Killick. Who was able to show the audience this initially joking, lighting the mood character. But even he has he opportunity to hint towards his home life trouble which a great drunk scene at 4am. Jerry Killick was perfect acting for this role and really was able to deliver the brilliant written daioglue,
The last character to mention is Leni played by Lee Braithwaite. Although not a “Main” character he was able to also provide some light hearted moments. While at certain points really showing how such events can impact family’s and indivudels who were not even around at the time. But have to deal with the aftermath. At many points Leni is used to just say what everyone is thinking.
The whole show gave me a massive NT Dorfman vibe. The static set, the lack of full black out. Really had it made for the dorfman. Now thinking about it the same staging direction was also completed in Alexander other play Faith hope and charity which did run at the Dorfman.
Overall I give this show 4 out of 5 stars. A play which lets you peer through the window of a suffering family who is dealing with the logistics and impacts of loosing a loved one. Another brilliant Alexander Zeldin play produced brilliantly on the NT stage. 80 minutes fly by.
Further information and details can be found on the NT website
A SPURDLE reviews 