This newly devised work, the third in 5pound Theatre’s ‘5pounds of Repertory Theatre’ project, is dark, captivating and blackly funny, and a brilliant example of what can be achieved on stage even within the tightest of timeframes.
5pound Theatre are taking quite a gamble with their repertory project – each week, an ensemble of actors perform a different work, under a different director. In the case of The Unnamed, the piece was devised in the rehearsal room with director Danny Delahunty at the helm. The Unnamed is a solid theatrical experience in its own right, but considering its truncated rehearsal period, it’s a considerable achievement.
The play follows five nameless characters who appear to live only for the chore of ‘sorting the sand’, which falls at random intervals from a hole in the ceiling. How they came to be doing this is unknown, but they don’t offer any discernable memories of any other life they may have led. When the sand isn’t falling, they sit and wait, needling each other and slowly revealing the unsettling dynamic of their existence to the audience. When the sand is falling, they spring into action, a well-oiled five-part machine that works flawlessly, until it doesn’t.
There are some fascinating ideas in play, especially in terms of human purpose and interaction. Watching the five actors perform the same chores time and time again does grow trying, but in eliciting this exasperation from the audience, there’s something being said about the inane criteria by which people assign value to their lives. (That said, the sand-sorting sequences do drag on, especially around the middle of the play.)
The best work is done when the sand stops falling, as each character’s weaknesses (rarely strengths) are revealed. All five actors deliver nuanced, interesting performances. Sebastian Gunner’s questioning elder is positioned initially as a possible hero, but he is slowly shown to be all puff and bluster. Susannah Frith’s beatific goody-two-shoes and Jason Cavanagh’s twitchy devotee are both fascinating to watch, as is Tom Molyneux as the most junior member of the team. Freya Pragt is simply arresting, and her gift for comic timing provides the play’s best blackly humorous moments.
Yes, The Unnamed could benefit from more development time and a longer rehearsal period – but the same could be said for almost every production in the history of the theatre. What this production lacks in polish, it makes up for with originality and thought-provoking performances.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Unnamed
Directed by Danny Delahunty
Performed by Jason Cavanagh, Susannah Frith, Sebastian Gunner, Tom Molyneux and Freya Pragt
Costume: Jennifer Sawyer
Lighting: Doug Montgomery
Lighting & Sound Operator: Colin Craig
The Owl and the Pussycat, Richmond
20 – 24 November
5pounds of Repertory Theatre
6 November – 8 December
