Skip to main content

Review of UoN Fringe: Only The Introverted by Set It Straight Theatre at The Platform, Northampton

In the Balm In Gilead, Bethany Williams, the solo performer in Set It Straight Theatre's Only The Introverted, was a quiet force to be reckoned with, creating a delightfully gentle character within an often cruel and violent world. In Only The Introverted, she explores a world, that I personally am very familiar with, as if anyone ever wished to diagnose me, I think I would be declared an introvert.

This whole play from its opening of the emergence out of her shell and to its end is actually just sweetly created. The bursting forth of a million little beeps from a phone is an understandable thing in all of us now, and the response that this introvert character has to this is equally understandable.

Even the daily grind of life, travel to, and travel home, from the eyes of someone who may need to live in this world, but doesn't really wish to, is lovingly created. The arrival of then perhaps the crowning glory in Shelly the tortoise is only going to enforce the loving that an audience could have for this show.

While this is both a theme show and an obviously very personal one, it never looks to preach. It guides us by hand gently through a subject that many would never understand, advising rather than hammering home its case, perhaps very apt considering its subject matter.

Williams is a delight once again, a captivating presence on stage, and without a doubt one of the strongest performers in this group, despite almost the innocence of performance at times. It's nice to get the feeling sometimes that someone is stronger than they think they are, and here, like a few of the best students from previous years, Williams is one of them.

I left Only The Introverted with a happy face, it's a delightful little show, which suitably approaches it's subject gently. Just lovely.

Performance reviewed: Saturday 24th March 2018 at The Platform, Northampton.

The UoN Fringe ran between Friday 23rd and Monday 26th March 2018.

Popular posts from this blog

Review of Annie at Milton Keynes Theatre

Annie was first performed now a remarkable fifty years ago at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, and since then, the tale based on a 1920s comic strip and adapted for the stage by Thomas Meehan on book, with music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics provided by Martin Charnin, has become a perennial favourite across the world. Indeed, this version, directed by Nikolai Foster, last appeared at Milton Keynes Theatre in 2023. So, after all these years, does Annie still have that appeal? Set in  1930s New York during the Great Depression,  Annie  follows the life of an orphan abandoned to the care  of its evil matron, Miss Hannigan. Annie seeks escape, and after one failed attempt, she finds herself the chosen Christmas guest of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and things slowly, hopefully begin to improve for the little but fiercely strong Annie. Leading the adult cast for this tour now as the cruel Miss Hannigan is Claire Sweeney. Sweeney clearly revels in the chance to embr...

Review of Matilda at Milton Keynes Theatre

Roald Dahl is perhaps one of the most famous children’s authors of any generation, and his work has inspired an exceptional number of film, television, and theatre adaptations. Fifteen years ago, this musical of Matilda , one of his most fondly remembered stories, took to the stage and has not looked back since. Adapted from the original book by Dennis Kelly, with lyrics and music by Tim Minchin, the show has been a fixture at the Cambridge Theatre in London since 2011, has performed on Broadway, and is now reaching Milton Keynes Theatre as part of its second UK and Ireland Tour. Inspired by the Roald Dahl book of the same name, this Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning musical tells the story of an extraordinary little girl with a vivid imagination and the courage to change her own destiny. Matilda is of course the centre of attention in this production, and on this extensive tour, the role is shared by Felicity Brown, Petra Hutchings, Mollie Hutton, and Caroline Ravansari ...

Review of Elf the Musical (N.M.T.C.) at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Christmas has come early this year thanks to the Northampton Musical Theatre Company and their annual performance at Royal & Derngate; this year, they bring Elf the Musical to the stage. First staged in 2010, this musical version of the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy features music by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and is based on the book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, from David Berenbaum's original screenplay. Elf tells the tale of Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves, who eventually learns that his origins are less North Pole and more the skyscraper streets of New York City. So, for Buddy, it’s time to travel to the Big Apple and finally meet his biological father. Matt Clarke's lead performance in Elf is strong. Clarke brings Buddy to life with all the childish manners and silly behaviour that make the character an endearing lead. He also has the vocal ability and movement to match, and he effortlessly entertains, especially the young kids, with his zany antics. Han...