• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

One Arm- Southwark Playhouse

June 19, 2015 by Rebecca Hewett Leave a Comment

Review of: One Arm
Price:
£18/16

Reviewed by: Rebecca Hewett
Rating:
4
On June 19, 2015
Last modified:June 19, 2015

Summary:

engaging and enthralling

More Details

Firstly let me preface this by saying that I am ill. Really ill. The kind of hot and cold, shivery, feverish terror of a flu that begs that you turn off your phone, lie still in a dark room, feel sorry for yourself and live on a diet of Lemsip and Netflix. But instead of whimpering into the darkness I am sat waiting for the opening moments of One Arm at The Southwark Playhouse, cursing my aching bones and trying not to sneeze on my fellow audience members. The one thing running through my head; This. Better. Be. Good.

Screen Shot 2015-06-19 at 10.53.10

© Alex Brenner

And the first thing to say is, it is. Moisés Kaufman’s adaptation of the Tennessee Williams short story and screen play interrupts the linear story of Ollie Olsen’s life and death, reordering the work in a clever and fast paced manner that unfolds the plot tantalisingly in front of you. Taking inspiration from the screen play, the whole piece is filmic; smoke screens, slow motion, snappy scene changes and a beautiful sound track, the production is the perfect collision of film and theatre.

Josh Seymour’s direction is beautiful and multifaceted. Each actor bar the enigmatic Ollie Olsen, played by Tom Varey, plays many roles and is involved in various beautifully choreographed and well executed movement sections, as well as being involved in scene changes that pull us through Ollie’s life during his wrestling career, tragic accident, life in Chicago and his time in prison.

The cast are brilliant. Well matched and slip seamlessly from part to part, they portray the era well, leaving you adoring these men forcibly closeted by the time and society, men dreaming of affection with the handsome mutilated stranger. Tom Varey is heart breaking as Ollie, torn apart by the direction his life has taken, the world he finds himself in, and the sentence that faces him. The portrayal of his missing arm is cleverly and simply done and Varey’s physicality is beautifully executed and painful to watch, after a while you see his arm as almost completely gone, as he hangs it, unmoving, invisible by his side. It is clear throughout how much the potential of the life he could have had haunts him terribly.

This is a lovely adaptation brimming with talent, gripping in its pacey 75 minutes and brought to life by the wonderful and vibrant cast of Peter Hannah, Joe Jameson, James Tucker, Tom Varey and Georgia Kerr, playing each of their roles with sensitivity and humour.

The play closes with Tennessee Williams’ beautiful and poetic words, “But death has never been much in the way of completion”, language that haunts you long after the play has ended, much as Ollie’s tragedy haunts him. And a good play should haunt you after, make you rethink and reconsider and mull it over. One Arm does just that, engaging and enthralling it really is worth battling the worst of flus for.

venue: Southwark Playhouse   box office: 020 7407 0234/ website    dates: until 4th July

Cast Includes

Peter Hannah, Joe Jameson, Georgia Kerr, James Tucker, Tom Varey

directed by

Josh Seymour

lighting by

Josh Pharo

written by

Tennessee Williams, adapted by Moisés Kaufman

design by

Alistair Turner

Author: Rebecca HewettLover and maker of theatre. Founder of Whistlestop Theatre Company, director and creator of things.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Josh Seymour, Moisés Kaufman, Southwark Playhouse, Tennessee Williams, Tom Varey

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Ian Nicholas talks The Elephant Song

Ian Nicholas is a theatre producer, running OnBook Theatre alongside director Jason Moore. He talks here about their next production, [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Willy Hudson on Welcome Home
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Yasmin Paige on Actually
  • The Role of Stage Manager in a Devising Company
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Art of Believing at The Space
  • Too High, Too Far, Too Soon- Tristan Bates Theatre
  • Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival
  • Alice Christina-Corrigan talks Past Life
  • Rebecca Hewett
    Contributor

  • June 19th, 2015
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!