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Being conversant in Simon Stephens’ performs, I used to be very a lot wanting ahead to One Minute, written 20 years in the past. The very first thing you discover are two females on both facet of the stage – Catherine (Imogen Mackenzie) mendacity down and Anne (Reshma Morris) sitting on a chair, wanting forlorn. Waiting for the present to begin, I discovered the music from The Stooges’ self-titled album from 1969 enjoyable to hearken to. One Minute tells the story of a younger lady, Daisy Schults, who disappears from a busy London road. We observe occasions – which span a yr since her disappearance…
Rating
Excellent
This revival of Simon Stephens play from 2003 stays simply as related 20 years later, and is a pleasure to witness.
Being conversant in Simon Stephens’ performs, I used to be very a lot wanting ahead to One Minute, written 20 years in the past. The very first thing you discover are two females on both facet of the stage – Catherine (Imogen Mackenzie) mendacity down and Anne (Reshma Morris) sitting on a chair, wanting forlorn. Waiting for the present to begin, I discovered the music from The Stooges’ self-titled album from 1969 enjoyable to hearken to.
One Minute tells the story of a younger lady, Daisy Schults, who disappears from a busy London road. We observe occasions – which span a yr since her disappearance – instructed by way of a sequence of characters – the detectives investigating her disappearance, DI. Gary Burroughs (Lee Lomas) and DC Robert Evans (Frederik Lysegaard), witness Marie Louise (Imogen Davis), the kid’s mom, Anne, and Catherine, the barmaid who befriends Gary Burroughs, providing him a much-needed individual to vent to.
A sequence of voiceovers mark the varied months, January by way of to November. These work nicely as markers to maneuver the plot alongside. Scenes are brief, tense and dramatic, as the varied characters come into battle with one another and discover it more and more troublesome to deal with the pressures of a misplaced baby and the investigation. One can’t assist however empathise with the plight of the person characters. Emotions and emotions are heightened, and so they communicate actually about their skilled and emotional relationships.
Many themes are current that really feel as related now as they did initially of the century – police cutbacks together with the stresses of the job, alcoholism, psychological well being, crime, in addition to friendship, loyalty and belief. The monologues are notably efficient in offering a snapshot of the grim actuality of London life – equivalent to Catherine’s visceral, beautifully-delivered monologue recounting how she travelled residence on the tube late at night time and the sensation {that a} man was following her – “There is phlegm on the floor, and you know it’s men who’ve spat there”.
What I really like about Stephens performs is that they supply a snapshot of London, by way of the eyes of his characters – we hear mentions of locations and landmarks which might be all too acquainted, however we additionally hear in regards to the grit and dirt. His characters might swear – DI Burroughs reprimands the novice DC Roberts for doing so – however they speak actually, in truth and with humour, revealing their emotions and telling others precisely what they consider one another. Gary’s monologue about seeing a beggar on the road is brutal and surprising; “I wanted to beat the shit out of him”. At the top of the play, they’ve all grown shut to one another, Robert telling Gary he likes him and his honesty, having gone by way of the ordeal of the misplaced baby.
I merely wished I may have seen extra of the advantageous actors, as some staging decisions meant that I may solely see the again of DI Burroughs’ head in some scenes, as he sits on a chair amid the viewers, which affords a view from just one facet of the theatre.
This play is a pleasure to observe, conserving me gripped from begin to end. It is each humorous and shifting, with the actors delivering stand out performances. A unbelievable piece of theatre that can stick with me for a very long time.
Written by: Simon Stephens
Directed by: Demi Leigh
Produced by: Working Actors Studio & Lee Lomas
One Minute performs at King’s Head Theatre till 26 March. Further data and bookings could be discovered right here.