Personals

Mon May 10th - Sat May 15th, 8pm

"Personals", director Mark Pollard explains "Emma & Liam are at it like rabbits. Maryanne & Tony are at it like cat & dog. Matty isn't at it at all-and it's driving everyone in the flat crazy. But when they turn to the "personals" to help Matty out, things start to get a lot more personal than anyone bargained for. Personals is a subtle and sensitive comedy drama about friendship, honesty, sexuality and that god awful transition between being in your twenties and being a grown up".

Show Reviews

"'Personals' by Danny Spring opened the second week of the Theatre Festival in an impressive and skilful presentation by the Actors Circle, London. Set in a modern up market apartment, it involves the flatmates, two girls who are in relationships with men , and their friend Matty who is 'indecisive' about his sexuality. They turn to the Personal ads to resolve their relationship difficulties with great comic effect. Claire Elizabeth McCarthy (Emma) and Imogen Rands (Maryanne) made a huge impact, displaying a fine dramatic range coupled with highly entertaining comic humour. Director Mark Pollard ensured the company moved and used the impressive set with ease and skill. I appreciate that farce is by its nature contrived, but at times the flagging of the next gag was just so obvious which in turn affected the pace. John Robson as Eric played the most grounded character - the gay lover, with a depth and sincerity that played magnificently against the comic mayhem of the other players. David Beckham lookalike, Sean Paul Browne, proved he was much more than a hunk, in the role of Liam, and gave a good dramatic performance, as did Paul as the cringing creep Tony the cheating estate agent. Matty's dilemma over his sexuality infused this production leaving it somewhat unresolved at the end. Paul Oliver played this role with intensity and frustrating ambiguity, leaving me to wonder would nice 'down to earth' Eric not be better off with someone else! A fine performance of a very high standard from the international standard bearers of the festival." - Gordon Farrell, Scene City - June 2004.