The Coffee Hour - New Century 1

Phys Ed - New Century 1

Opening day of the 24:7 Theatre Festival brings blue skies and excited audiences for early performances of the 21 new shows on offer.  Follow the link to the 24:7 website (below) for video trailers, show times and further information.

The Coffee Hour by Arden-trained Michael Peacock is about strangers who literally bump into each other in a coffee shop.  Laura is nursing a mug of caffeine, not to mention the remains of a bottle of house red, at her solitary table in a café-bar, so it’s no surprise that she’s as highly-strung as a Bechstein grand and doesn’t take kindly to having her drink spilled by the clumsy and unselfconscious Adam.  Adam’s equally clumsy attempts at conversation result in screwball comedy-style quick-fire wit and repartee, but as the sparks fly Laura’s icy demeanour gradually thaws. 

However the casual encounter is transformed into a moving and emotional relationship when the banter dies down and Laura reveals her hidden sorrow - the tragic loss of her much-loved sister who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident.  Suffering from survivor’s guilt and seeing forgiveness as a form of betrayal in spite of the quietus it might bring to her own soul, Sarah Wylie beautifully captures the ebb and flow of Laura’s confused feelings.  Michael Peacock as Adam is especially strong in his laid-back lothario guise, with the kind of expressive comedy eyes that almost need no dialogue.  A touching two-hander.

On a completely different note, Phys Ed by Simon Carter is a comedy monologue about rugby obsessed PE teacher Neville Trellis.  Trellis is played by Library Theatre favourite Nicholas Osmond, a man for whom the phrase “romantic juvenile lead” might have been coined, so it’s entirely to his credit that he sheds all vestiges of dignity and self-respect to embrace his inner geek so convincingly.

Trellis tells us about his difficult journey through life as the bed-wetting younger twin of a future England sports star; lets us into the secrets of his brethren, the tight-trackie-bottom wearing, underpant-shunning Phys Ed teaching mafia; and draws the obvious parallels between King Arthur’s Round Table and the quest to win the England schools invitation trophy, his personal holy grail.

Simon Carter’s script lets the actor ventriloquise an entire cast of unsavoury characters in addition to his anti-anti-hero, and Nicholas Osmond easily holds the audience enraptured for 55 minutes.  But his bravura solo performance is supported by excellent use of sound and lighting in what is a real team effort - well done lads!

www.247theatrefestival.co.uk has all the show information including video trailers

Tickets: £8/£6 (conc): book online from the 247 website or ring 0870 428 0785 (or turn up at the venues)

Venues: Pure at the Printworks, off Withy Grove/Corporation Street; New Century House, Corporation Street (200 metres from The Printworks)

Both venues are a stone’s throw from Manchester Victoria Station