Are There More of You?

Phil Bloomfield August 26, 2010

This excellent production is a series of loosely interlinked monologues about four middle-aged women who live in SW11, all written and performed by the highly talented Alison Skilbeck. Firstly, she gives us Claire, an ex-Ambassador’s wife, abandoned for a younger woman from Channel 4 but fighting back with Art Therapy and a toy boy of her own. Then we meet Sophia, whose mixture of Italian and South London accents is a hoot. She runs a little café by day, transforming it into a trattoria with opera singers in the evening, but she is run more ragged by her aging Mama, who demands attention by banging on the floor upstairs with a stick. Next, and for me the best, came Sara. She started her working life as a teacher but, following her divorce, gave that up to become a spirit weaver, one who sorts out people’s spiritual problems by untangling their auras. She seems all new-agey and sweetness and light at first, but there is a dark side to her tale and a neat little twist. Finally, we hear from Sam who has a strong northern accent and luridly pink high-heels. She’s Daddy’s favourite, the tomboy turned successful business woman, out on the town with two male interview candidates, carefully assessing their social skills and edgy ideas whilst slowly knocking back the Tia Marias. She shares with us her special plans for one of the candidates. These then are our four contrasting characters, all brilliantly performed, and all totally believable, conjured up with the minimum of props. Hearing the frequent chuckles, it was obvious that the audience (mostly female) recognised the acute observations and the situations that Skilbeck had plonked her ladies into, even if not from direct personal experience. They warmly appreciated Alison Skilbeck’s return to the Oxford stage (she has performed for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) at the Playhouse many times in the past). Her Are There More of You? is a delightful evening’s thought-provoking and amusing entertainment.

Daily Info

Location

Burton Taylor Studio

Share this event