North West Theatre

Pawn

Brian Marchbank
Poppabear Productions
26 Jul 10 to 31 Jul 10
New Century House
Part of: 24:7 Theatre Festival

You get up, dressed, pick up your mask and gun, then go to work.

Next thing, bells are sounding and shutters come crashing down.

The day's turned to sh*t, and you think it can't get worse.

But when your hostages are old schoolmates, it can get a lot worse.

Nothing listed

...the manner in which [the characters] are linked is surprising and nicely dealt with... [Annamarie] Bayley’s characterisation of Emma being particularly amusing and, towards the end, strong. [Fiona] Carmouch is also to be commended on her comedy skills... The piece unravels into some confusion, however, with the arrival of the armed robbers... It feels as if these two characters have been lifted out of another play entirely... [Hugh] Draycott is wooden, whilst [Christine] Clare probably couldn’t overact more if she tried...
The Public Reviews (Rating: 3/5)
...neither the writer nor the director seem to be able to decide whether this is a comedy or a tense drama and so it doesn't entirely work as either... The final standoff... is played superbly... a truly compelling performance from Matthew Stead, although his final act in the play is at once predictable and not really justified... Fiona Carmouch also gives a strong performance... Christine Clare creates Bernie convincingly as the hard, focussed, bully, but her character is on top note for almost the whole time... Hugh Draycott convinces as the boy from a posh school in Macclesfield but never seems like he has joined up with Bernie and her hard brothers for kicks... too long with some overwritten dialogue that over-explains everything...
British Theatre Guide
...certainly value for money... A laugh out loud comedy that also has something to say about the way society casts aside psychologically scarred ex-servicemen... Brian Marchbank writes punchy, edgy and funny dialogue and the cast more than return the compliment with strong and believable performances... Annmarie Bayley is a scream... Matthew Stead is totally captivating... Christine Clare is unnervingly intimidating... Outstanding, in your face and irresistible.
Sale and Altrincham Messenger (Rating: 4/5)
...plenty of laugh-out-loud lines and a good amount of drama too... Dennis Keighron-Foster directs with some pace and, apart from a little too much overly-loud, actorly shouting, the cast do the script justice. The exception is John McElhatton... who unfortunately gets most of the poorer lines and doesn't manage to overcome the handicap... The last couple of minutes of the plot don’t work for me and the piece feels ten minutes too long... an original piece that’s definitely worth seeing.
What's On Stage (Rating: 3/5)
...very funny... Writer Brian Marchbank has succeeded in producing a sustained black comedy, deftly directed... by Dennis Keighron-Foster. The six-strong cast keep the sharp interplay flowing nicely... enjoyed Annamarie Bayley’s wide-eyed, not-so-gormless playing... Fiona Carmouch impresses...
City Life (Rating: 4/5)