Moment of truth with first reviews

The Oldham Youth Council member contributes today’s Edinburgh Fringe blog

Today we would like share with you our first review of “The Split Second” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Waiting for reviews is always a nervous time.

In Oldham people are aware of the Every Life Matters campaign and of what Oldham Theatre Worksop is, but here the production has to stand on it’s own merits.

We spotted this review by Imogen O’Sullivan: “The impressive and striking set as the piece opened showcased polished production values that are rarely budgeted for in student productions.

“Four cut-out walls set each scene, shaped like they could slot together as the lives of the four characters are woven into each other.

“However, as each block swivels to reveal a mirrored backing, you begin to realise that they don’t represent unity, but the shattered fragments of a glass windshield and the shattered lives that are left behind following ‘the split second’ of impact.

“An honest performance of a funny and thought-provoking script.

“Occasionally, particularly at the beginning, the piece did stray into slightly awkward and contrived ‘look what teenagers lives are like’ moments, but the split second the climax of the story was reached, each actor showed impressive emotional depth, engaging an unfortunately small audience and genuinely encouraging them to think differently about mass mourning.

“Rob Mallard put in a performance of impressive emotional depth and maturity as the protagonist Jake, posing the very relevant question of who is to blame for fatal accidents and whether the label of ‘victim’ can be awarded to more than just the deceased.

“This question is highlighted by the effect the accident has on Jake’s friends and family; Mark Newsome’s Sean blaming the boy who walked out into the road, whilst Norah Lopez’s Hannah has to deal with her father placing the blame directly on her boyfriend whilst she is left feeling just as responsible.

“Newsome shines throughout with exceptional comic timing succeeding in creating a likeable and recognisable character from what could have been a two-dimensional cliché.

“Lopez is also strong, particularly in conveying the naivety of young love. Her onstage relationship with Mallard’s Jake is undoubtedly difficult to portray realistically and occasionally feels somewhat awkward, though both actors throw themselves into a brave attempt.

“Sarah Nelson provides some nice comic moments and the mother/son interactions between her and Mallard are genuinely touching, though not as subtly nuanced as Nelson’s impressive show of confused grief and anger as the play concludes.

“As a study of ‘the split second that changed everything’, this piece succeeds in cleverly changing the way you think about a bunch of flowers left by the side of the road and makes an interesting point about the outpourings of grief scattered around social networking sites that are used to vent anger and point blame.

“As the mirrors swivel to face the audience, we are made to stare at ourselves, the way we react to news stories, the assumptions we make, a powerful ending to a piece that allows us to truly see another side of the story and examine the possibility that ‘the split second’ could have occurred in any one of our own lives.”

We are very proud of this review, especially the fact that the reviewer saw all the themes and messages in the piece that we intended.

Once more we are proud to be from Oldham and proud to be making an impact on an international stage and most importantly proud of the young people of Oldham.