• 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

Vault Fest 2017: This Must Be the Place

February 10, 2017 by Carmen Paddock Leave a Comment

Review of: This Must Be the Place
Price:
£12

Reviewed by: Carmen Paddock
Rating:
4
On February 10, 2017
Last modified:February 15, 2017

Summary:

While the piece misses some opportunities due to the unclear plotting, This Must Be the Place is a strong, engaging, and memorable work exploring human interaction.

More Details

The Vault’s 2017 theatre festival hosts a 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show this weekend.  An exploration of human relationships – romantic, platonic, familiar, and intrapersonal – and how we escape them, This Must Be the Place follows two stories combined by these themes of missed connections.  Despite opaque plotting and a few moments which felt oversimplified, the everyday humanity shown in the characters’ struggles creates one hour of beauty.

 

There are two stories shown here; while it is slightly unclear if they overlap or not (an unfortunate confusion for the audience), treating them as separate cases does not diminish their validity or power.  The first follows Adam and his partner Lily; when Adam finds out about the death of his estranged father, his understanding of the world, his relationships, and himself unravel.  The second follows Tate and Matty – lifelong friends working a shady hometown job and contemplating the former’s impending departure to London.  Throughout both are interwoven meditations on social media, London and country life, and the façades maintained in everyday life.  References to Facebook always got a knowledgeable laugh, but some of the latter tops were handled in a heavy handed fashion.

 

A striking production decision is the use of handheld microphones at all times except in one incredibly vulnerable moment.  This frames the story as a self-aware conversation – effective in combining audience addresses with character interactions – and the wires crossing the stage as they speak, move, and interact is a poignant, tangible reminder of their innate interconnectedness.  Aside from this tech, the set is stripped bare aside from a bench at the back, the lighting barely changes, and the only sound effects are the noises of cars and city life – choices which keep the focus on the characters’ stories.  Another effective move is performing Adam’s voicemail live instead of having a recording; this makes the human connection – barely missed – palpable.

 

The cast are all fully committed to the show, and it is remarkable to note that, in a show with 98% of the dialogue spoken into microphones, there is not awkward breath, mistimed line, or instance of static.  James Cooney shows Adam’s pain and confusion subtly, usually through realistic moments of callousness or lashing out.  However, Adam’s dialogue about human connection feels contrived at points, unfortunately lessening sympathy for the character through no fault of the actor.  Molly Roberts brings a luminous desperation to Lily, and one clearly feels the frustration when she is looking for her missing partner.  Sadly, she is given little else to do aside from react to Adam’s issues, and this lack of character development stands out among the others.  Feliks Mathur plays Tate as the straight man of his duo, bringing a classic buddy movie feel to his part.  Lastly, Hamish Rush’s ebullient Matty bounces effortlessly off Tate’s more subdued energy but portrays the latent fear and insecurities in the friendship.  The natural banter between these two characters is exceptional.

 

While the piece misses some opportunities due to the unclear plotting, it is a strong, engaging, and memorable work.

 

This Must Be the Place is playing at the Vaults (Leake Street, SE1 7NN) until 12th Febuary, with performances Friday-Sunday at 19.45 and an additional matinee at 16.30 on Saturday.  Tickets cost £12.

 

Cast: Feliks Mathur, Molly Roberts, Hamish Rush, James Cooney

 

Director: Justin Audibert

 

Writers: Brad Birch, Kenneth Emson

Author: Carmen PaddockTheatre goer and theatre writer
T: Twitter

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Brad Birch, Feliks Mathur, Hamish Rush, James Cooney, Justin Audibert, Kenneth Emson, Molly Roberts, The Vaults, this must be the place, Vault Festival 2017

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Richard Vergette on Leaving Vietnam

We spoke to Richard Vergette, writer and performer of Leaving Vietnam. Richard plays a war veteran who feels ignored and [Read More]

Review / The Journey To Venice at the Finborough Theatre

Bjorg Vik’s play The Journey To Venice is a delightful production, entertaining yet full of pathos. A play with a [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Tzarini Meyler talks KITES at VAULT Festival

We spoke to Artistic Director of LipZinc Theatre, writer and performer Tzarini Meyler about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Naomi Westerman talks BATMAN (aka Naomi’s Death Show)

We spoke to writer and performer Naomi Westerman from Little But Fierce about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival Can [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 

From New Perspectives, The Swearing Jar is a comedy about love, heartbreak, living with the past and accepting the future. We spoke to director Angharad [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Tim Edge talks Under the Black Rock
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • The Donmar Warehouse's Julius Caesar at the King's Cross Theatre
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat
  • Art of Believing at The Space
  • The Bacchae - National Student Drama Festival 2015
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream at Brasenose College, Oxford
  • Abel Law on becoming a musical theatre student during COVID
  • Carmen Paddock
    Author

  • February 10th, 2017
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook2TweetLinkedInEmail

    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!