At the Other Room |
| A Sunny Disposition , Porters, Cardiff , May 12, 2016 |
Another startling new play from another Cardiff based actress in one week. Nicola Reynolds’ A Sunny Disposition. There’s nothing very sunny about Charlie’s circumstances. The lights go on, he looks us in the eye and tells us “I want you to like me.” As his story enfolds we find he’s a bit of a loser, addicted to alcohol and drugs and a bit of a let down to himself and his family. Not easy to like, but we do! This dazzling performance from Neal McWilliams, very much in contrast with his last week’s role at The Other Room as the nervous young man, Stephen in Constellation Street. He exudes a strength of character in the way he performs that adds more poignancy as he takes us through the terrors within him. It is clear that there is a very fine and productive rapport between writer/director Nicola Reynolds and her powerful actor. He does have a soft side. He has two beautiful little girls. “Ella is eight and Grace is six. Ella’s my best mate She’s just at that age when you can have a proper conversation with her.” He paints a beautiful picture of the time he made a hedgehog for his girls, for tea. Molding mash potato for the body, cutting up a sausage for the spikes and green peas for eyes. We agonise with him and want to help him to mend his ways. AA did work for him for a time. “I never thought I’d be happy sober”. For a while he was happy with his ever-caring wife Dolly and the girls. It didn’t last long and the see-saw of his life swung the other way and we follow him as he alternates revelling in drugs and alcohol and a guilt that more often than not fails to drag him out of it. He hits us, some times hard, with his continuing struggle. The next Christmas is a good one, off the booze once more. McWilliams’ accounts of his everyday activities, particularly when he talks about his family are real and absolutely riveting. He’s in a flat. The Christmas tree is lit up; presents for the children, brightly wrapped sit happily under it. It’s Christmas Eve, the night before we meet him, his daughters are with him, Grace is asleep but Ella is still awake. He puts her in his car and drives off to get fags. It is not an altogether successful trip. As he arrives back at the flat, even more awful chaos. Some might say this is his just desserts. Charlie needs a drink! Another inspirational performance from this very fine actor who is a delight to watch. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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