Lorna Irvine is both impressed and haunted by the latest offering of A Play, a Pie and a Pint.
Catrin Evans has a powerful voice as one of Oran Mor’s regular writers, and Thank You further cements her reputation: it is magnificent – first, eliciting belly laughs, then a nervous tentative chuckle and, ultimately, shock, like a punch in the guts.
Nervous Ella, performed by Louise Ludgate (previously seen at Oran Mor in Mel Giedroyc’s Slice) has persuaded cheeky ex-boyfriend Mike (Colin McCreadie) to meet her at the train station with some news.
They josh about their jobs and children and stiltedly reminisce for a while, until talk turns to their sex life as teenagers. It is then that Ella accuses Mike of raping her when she was asleep, not once but several times when they were together. Mike cannot believe what he is hearing- but who is telling the truth?
All the cast give an astonishing performance and are note-perfect with dialogue that feels so true it is uncomfortable- Vari Sylvester, who plays Joyce, a woman who may or may not be Ella’s rape counsellor, has an almost otherworldly presence put to good use as she interrupts the exes like a totem of empathy.
The highly emotive issue of date rape is written with a clear-eyed understanding. Evans’ script scrutinises the lack of communication and acquiescence between two young people, building a picture of how one act can ruin not only two people’s lives, but subsequent generations.
There are no straight clues as to who is being honest- both
seem like confused, damaged souls looking for something unattainable in their
lives.
Thank You is that all-too-rare thing- an intelligent play stained with hurt, sadness and anger which will probably still be forging heated debates, long after the performance has ended.
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