You can’t get much for a tenner these days.
And so when the Brockley Jack Theatre is offering a set of three monologues for the price of a slightly rubbish burger it seems like good value.
The fact the theatre won two awards on Sunday (Feb 22) – for most welcoming venue and best bar from the Off West End Theatre Awards – makes it even more tempting.
As I entered the smoky auditorioum, there was a palpable sense of energy in the room, helped by the intimate seating.
The first of the monologues written by Howard Colyer, Again, was a piece about a drunk and disaffected man, stranded by his girlfriend on holiday.
Warren Taylor, perfectly conveyed the haziness and confusion of having one too many, and the emotional rollercoaster which ensues.
The next piece, You Take the 321, was a complete contrast – earnest and conflicted and full of thwarted idealism.
Avita Jay gave an insight into a young graduate battling against parental expectations, housing dilemmas and how to find a home.
Jay shone in this role and her performance trod the fine balance of being both subtle and engaging. She captured the angst of a young woman working out how to make her mark on the world.
It was also a joy to hear so many south London spots featured in Colyer’s writing e.g a rented flat in Deptford, a Second World War victim living in Lee High Road – all giving a sense of shifting tensions and identities.
When ‘woman’ (we never learn her name) speaks about her parents’ disappointment in her choice of Frankham Street in Deptford for a home, she says, “They have never been here – yet I am wrong and they are right. I see civility and tranquillity; they see drug crazed fascists.”
Police sirens accompany her loving tribute to her area and it seems the perfect representation of life in the capital; full of risks and possibilities. Out of the three, I found this the most enjoyable monologues.
The final monologue, Without Reluctance and Without Relief, featured a blistering performance David Bromley, initially a charming executive who seemingly transforms into a paranoid maniac.
The word “marvellous” mutates from a blustering affectation of a middle-aged man into a desperate-sounding mantra.
There’s only a few days left to enjoy the trio and I recommend a trip for something baffling, unusual and enjoyable.
Without Reluctance and Without Relief is playing at the Brockley Jack in Brockley Road until February 28 2015 at 8.00pm.
Tickets cost £10.
To book, call 0333 666 3366 or visit brockleyjack.co.uk/portfolio/without-reluctance-without-relief
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