HENNA NIGHT | STAGE REVIEW
Chapter Arts Centre, Mon 21 July
I had high hopes for Henna Night – as an award winning play on the programme at Chapter as part of Cardiff Comedy Festival. The story tells of a one night encounter between Judith (played by Hannah Lloyd) and Ros (Emma Mc Nab), the current girlfriend of Judith’s ex Jack. This awkward evening is the result of a drunken answer machine message left by Judith for Jack, detailing her plans for henna, razor blades and the possibility of a pregnancy.
Given the situation there is an abundance of opportunity for the two actresses to really go at it. If the new woman of the man I loved turned up on my doorstep the last thing I would do is be apathetic about it. I feel that, as a relatively new theatre company, 3 Crate really didn’t invest enough. Jokes were miss-timed or humour was lost altogether because the actresses just weren’t that convincing. For it being a dark comedy there was no genuine anger or conflict and all emotion just seemed to be on a plateau.
Directorially (Peter Scott) there were a few decisions I had issue with. A lot of business off stage goes on for far too long .Clattering tea cups and giggling behind a curtain isn’t of any interest when it is causes uncomfortable pauses to the action ,that don’t seem like decisions the company chose to make but rather that the whole thing has been under rehearsed. I also feel that if something isn’t effective then workshop a way around it. Ros trying to get Judith to take a cigarette is integral to the plot as it’s designed to trip her into confirming (or not) her pregnancy. However Ros actually physically smoking isn’t entirely necessary and could have been written out, given how unconvincing and clunky it looked. Prop heavy staging seems necessary to this story, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the actually delivery of it.
There are laughs to be had, and the material itself is solid with some nice lines like “You don’t fall in love, you jump. It’s suicide” to be delivered. However the whole production just fell a bit flat for me.
Clearly 3 Crate have experience as they are all drama school graduates and have worked on a number of productions previously, they just didn’t attack this in the way they should have. Disappointingly half hearted.
words ADRIENNE WALKER
Henna Night, Porters Bar, Cardiff, Thurs 24 July. Tickets: £7. Info: www.facebook.com/Porterscardiff
