Fringe theatre review: In The Shadow of The Mountain, Old Red Lion Theatre
19/05/2018
Laughter from the early scenes turns to exasperation and then gasps as the behaviour becomes more extreme - and desperate.
Ellie (Felicity Huxley-Miners) and Rob's (David Shears) relationship starts on a train platform in dramatic circumstances.
In The Shadow of the Mountain: Felicity Huxley-Miners and David Shears
One is depressed, the other is manic but both feel like they don't fit in. Is this mismatch of personality the life-raft relationship it seems?
At first, the chaos of Ellie's mind and behaviour seems charmingly kooky and awkward. In her performance, Felicity reminded me a little of Patsy Ferran in My Mother's A Twat, Royal Court and Speech and Debate, Trafalgar Studios 2.
Manipulation
But it soon becomes clear that there are deeper emotional problems, a neediness and manipulation that is calculated to mask other feelings of a lack of self-worth.
Rob is emotionally bruised from an unfaithful relationship and feeling isolated and overwhelmed by the pressures of modern life, none of which equips him to properly help Ellie - or walk away.
What we get from David's performance is feeling of powerlessness against Ellie's manipulation despite his obvious feelings of discomfort and awkwardness.
Laughter and gasps
Laughter from the early scenes turns to exasperation and then gasps as the behaviour becomes more extreme - and desperate.
In The Shadow of the Mountain: David Shears and Felicity Huxley-Miners
In making Ellie and Rob a mismatched couple who never really get comfortable with each other, I did wonder if the play lays all its cards on the table a little too soon and, therefore, makes the direction of the narrative inevitable.
However, it does a good job in highlighting the fragility of mental and emotional health under the pressures of modern life and also how isolating it can be.
The writing is lively and it cracks along at a good pace for its 70 minutes running time.
You can see it at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Angel until June 2.
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