Press Review Skin Tight by Gary Henderson
Other Space Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham April 26th
“Skin Tight” by New Zealand playwright Gary Henderson is based on a poem “The Magpies” by Dennis Glover, and it is with the harsh cries of these birds echoing around the space that Red Dog set the scene for the telling of this quirky love story which pulls at the heart strings as it unfolds.
Elizabeth is dying; in the last hours before she and Tom must part forever, all their love, pain and delight in each other; their fears and needs, their tenderness and their passion is revealed, relived and relished one last time. They have reached the end of a long marriage, and the audience is quickly made to feel how hard it is for them to give each other up for they have grown so much a part of each other. And yet even now there are secrets to be revealed and explained and danger still lurks in the games they play, pushing each other to the limits of trust and provocation. Director Jacquie Crago gives us an exquisitely paced production where each moment of this deeply moving relationship is given its own space and weight. It was rather like watching a necklace of pearls being threaded, each one held up to the light for a moment before being placed on the string to make part of the whole. To enhance the effect of this, the text is both illustrated and punctuated by a subtle and successful use of percussion, played by Mark Coldrick from the side of the stage, assuming the character of an older Tom recalling these events.
Both Kate Abraham and Dan Maxwell are individually outstanding as Elizabeth and Tom but it is in the way they play together that the real strength of their performances lie. They find an equal truth in both the sexual charge they bring to the more violent games the couple play and in the childishness of some of their exchanges, and it is this sincerity and truth which holds the audience right through to the heartbreaking poignancy of the final moments.
Sarah Curran Stroud News and Journal May 23rd 2007
Other Space Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham April 26th
“Skin Tight” by New Zealand playwright Gary Henderson is based on a poem “The Magpies” by Dennis Glover, and it is with the harsh cries of these birds echoing around the space that Red Dog set the scene for the telling of this quirky love story which pulls at the heart strings as it unfolds.
Elizabeth is dying; in the last hours before she and Tom must part forever, all their love, pain and delight in each other; their fears and needs, their tenderness and their passion is revealed, relived and relished one last time. They have reached the end of a long marriage, and the audience is quickly made to feel how hard it is for them to give each other up for they have grown so much a part of each other. And yet even now there are secrets to be revealed and explained and danger still lurks in the games they play, pushing each other to the limits of trust and provocation. Director Jacquie Crago gives us an exquisitely paced production where each moment of this deeply moving relationship is given its own space and weight. It was rather like watching a necklace of pearls being threaded, each one held up to the light for a moment before being placed on the string to make part of the whole. To enhance the effect of this, the text is both illustrated and punctuated by a subtle and successful use of percussion, played by Mark Coldrick from the side of the stage, assuming the character of an older Tom recalling these events.
Both Kate Abraham and Dan Maxwell are individually outstanding as Elizabeth and Tom but it is in the way they play together that the real strength of their performances lie. They find an equal truth in both the sexual charge they bring to the more violent games the couple play and in the childishness of some of their exchanges, and it is this sincerity and truth which holds the audience right through to the heartbreaking poignancy of the final moments.
Sarah Curran Stroud News and Journal May 23rd 2007
The Everyman Theatre:
A beautiful, poetic piece, lovingly sparse. Thank you
A magnificant piece of theatre. The sound so brilliantly reflected the emotional forces in the play.
So moving and powerful
Your production was exceptional
The Garage theatre:
Very raw. Love the elements. So un-preoccupied with clutter.
Wonderful simplicity with moving dialogue.
Island Arts Lisburn:
Very powerful. Wonderful!
Riverside Theatre, Coleraine:
We loved it! The style, the pacing.
A great sparse performance. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing such a wonderful piece of theatre to our venue. (Lighting technician)
Absolutely beautiful – rarely is drama so engaging
– Sharon Kirk, Marketing Manager
Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely:
A moving and memorable performance
– Programmer at Courthouse
Wexford:
Beautiful
A beautiful, poetic piece, lovingly sparse. Thank you
A magnificant piece of theatre. The sound so brilliantly reflected the emotional forces in the play.
So moving and powerful
Your production was exceptional
The Garage theatre:
Very raw. Love the elements. So un-
Island Arts Lisburn:
Very powerful. Wonderful!
Riverside Theatre, Coleraine:
We loved it! The style, the pacing.
A great sparse performance. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing such a wonderful piece of theatre to our venue. (Lighting technician)
Absolutely beautiful – rarely is drama so engaging
– Sharon Kirk, Marketing Manager
Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely:
A moving and memorable performance
– Programmer at Courthouse
Wexford:
Beautiful
The Flavel:
Superbly done.
Moving and thought provoking. The musical input was crucial.
The Mill:
Wow – this is theatre at its very best. Such powerful and emotional performance in such an intimate setting.
Moving and gripping.
Passionate and beautiful, rhythmically choreographed.
Thanks for great theatre
The Hawth:
A great performance and moving. Wish you had a bigger audience – you certainly deserved one.
A very poignant performance. It brought tears to my eyes.
Blades, Northleach:
A rare production in a lovely setting – pure poetry
A wonderful production in the perfect setting. Please come again.
The Mission:
Wonderful. Thank you.
Very passionate. Very moving.
Kingshill house:
Excellent, very powerful and moving, everything that true love should be.
What the venues and the public said.....