FIVE STAR REVIEW - Rick Bowen at StageStruck

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

IF there was such a thing as a degree in emotional cruelty and how to be a control freak, the cold and scheming arts student Evelyn is sure to walk away with first class honours.

And the way in which she turns her doting lapdog boyfriend Adam from bumbling dweeb to fashion conscious cool dude is deeply, deeply disturbing when her real motivation for doing so emerges near the end of Neil La Bute’s exceptional and thought provoking play.

Like probably the majority of the audience, I was repulsed and yet fascinated by and drawn to Evelyn, mainly in the hope she would pay for her actions.

Altrincham Garrick’s intimate Lauriston Studio is the perfect setting for this wonderful piece which is a feast for the intellect while at the same time, not being smugly intellectual.

The play covers everything from society’s obsession with physical perfection to love and relationships, minus the slushy stuff. Love hurts, the old saying goes. But after sitting through this I’m certain it should I’m sure you agree, come with a Government health warning.

I had a chance meeting with director Geoff Holman at the theatre’s box office recently and he waxed lyrical about his very gifted young cast.

Sam Evans as Adam, Annie Rogers as Evelyn, Sophie Cain as Jenny and Daniel Molnar as Philip give performances of a professional standard, thanks to both their considerable talent and that of Holman, whom I’ve always rated as a very capable occupant of the director’s chair.

All four actors are engaging and believable and I hope for very selfish reasons they don’t plump for a career on the professional stage.

Make sure you don’t miss this, the Garrick’s best production of the season so far.

Photos by Martin Ogden.

Star rating - *****