ED2017 2/5 Reviews ED2017 Theatre Reviews

Crave (Pembroke Players)

By | Published on Tuesday 22 August 2017

Sarah Kane’s plays can be incredibly difficult to produce well: streams of jagged, despairing words, the characters talking apparently at random without listening to one another. This production makes an attempt, but what lets it down, however, is the direction. Two actors often sit in chairs facing away from the audience and the actors, whilst competent young performers, seem to have little understanding of the words they’re saying, leading to inexplicable shouting and dull, lifeless exchanges. The lighting too, is deeply unpleasant – random blackouts and flashing lights. It’s been 19 years since ‘Crave’ premiered at the Fringe, and the script is still poignant, savage and gut-wrenching, but Pembroke Players just don’t seem to have anything new to say with it.

theSpace on North Bridge, until 26 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Gemma Scott]

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