KISS, MARY OR PUSH OFF A CLIFF … a play staged as part of NT Connections, by Artz for All at Lathom High School, Skelmersdale on Saturday, 23rd March, 2024
Review written by Jim Briscoe for NODA
‘NT Connections’ is part of the National Theatres Annual Youth Theatre Festival. Now in its twenty-ninth year; this programme commissions new plays, written by some of the UK’s most exciting writers and talented theatre-makers and is a platform to champion talented young people from across the UK. 2023/2024 sees NT Connections working with nearly 270 Youth Companies from across the UK. The festival is open to any Company, School, Youth Theatre or Voluntary Group that have young people aged between 13-19 years.
Kiss, Mary or Push off a Cliff is a dark coming of age play penned by Josh Azouz… “It’s strange and it’s about to get stranger” when a group of friends, post ‘A’ Level Exams go camping together – but after only one night, one of them is ostracised by the rest of the group and cast out into wilderness for something they said…or was it something they did? Friendships are tested, new alliances formed, trusts are broken and reality is twisted out of shape … the trip becomes a rite of passage…guided by a moral compass, that isn’t entirely reliable!
Production Team… this was ‘Artz for All’s’ first venture with ‘NT Connections’ and Joe Howard’s (Director) first involvement with a ‘straight play’… I was interested to read Joe’s comments in an article I found online about this play where he says … “For me as a director, this production has been a huge venture from the norm. My bread and butter are musicals, but nobody should be ashamed of learning something for the first time. Learning lasts a lifetime and lets all look for the new thing to learn, things we haven’t done yet, because I tell you what… the learning I’ve done on this play will undoubtedly mean that when I open my next musical script, I’m going to be better at that too!’ … and how right Joe is! Joe was assisted in the direction of this play by Richie Prunetti.
This was only MY second visit to see a play covered by NT Connections, the first one being two days earlier … did I understand everything that was going on either stage ‘NOT AT ALL, IN FACT I WAS TOTALLY LOST AT TIMES’… have I learned anything, OH YES and the place I probably learned most, was when I was invited to meet and spend about 15 / 20 minutes with the cast of Kiss, Mary or Push off a Cliff after their production. I feel extremely fortunate, blessed and enlightened to have had that opportunity …. I learned
so much about that play from them, plus I learned so much about them as young people… it was a complete privilege and one that I won’t forget for a very long time! Did I understand everything after that… ‘NO’ but the picture was far less hazy! Thank you, Joe, thank you ‘Artz for All’ for affording me that time!
The Cast … we had eight actors, aged between 13 and 17, chosen to bring this script to life and what a challenge they took on… because this wasn’t the easiest of plays to stage or to deal with because it presented many themes relevant to young people today including sexuality, attraction, drugs and alcohol which were dealt with in an inoffensive, non-sensationalised way. This being my first review for ‘Artz for All’, you need to know, that this is where I usually put my ‘neck on the block’ and start suggesting MY ‘show stealer’ and My ‘favourite performances’, but I think the success of the production wasn’t down to an individual or individuals … but down to a cast, who came together as one, who worked their socks off and who provided us with some great theatre… so to single a person out, would in my opinion to wrong!
So were to start… (just for you Joe) … ‘Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start’… It’s the morning after the night before, the morning after the group had spent their first full night together camping outdoors and we quickly discover that ‘Marco’, played impressively well by fourteen-year-old Lexie Kaill, had done ‘something’ and was being ‘kicked out’ of the camp! Wow… Lexie did an amazing job with this role, showing with ease, the frustration Marco felt being kicked out of the camp. She was confident, assured, created a great character with good stage presence, a perfect fit for this role, be ever so proud Lexie. Fourteen-year-old Emily Britton took on the role of ‘Ricky’ probably the chief protagonist in getting ‘Marco’ kicked out of the camp… determined to always get her own way! Emily provided us with another confident, assured performance, and another great character created! Fifteen-year-old Minnie Gradytook on the role of ‘Jess’ …. Minnie, offered a little light relief in all the doom and gloom. It was thought that she’d brought ‘drugs’ to the camp, only to find out that she’d been tricked’ and had bought nothing more than ‘Mint Sweets’. Another great character who worked well with everyone! Rosie O’Brien, aged fifteen, took on the role of ‘Kiara’… the sensitive one, who has feelings for a number of the group, the one that see things a lot clearer than most. Confident, good characterisation, a real presence on stage, be proud! Fourteen-year-old Zara Winstanley took on the role of ‘Tamer’, a budding boxer, a born worrier who carries the problems of the world ones shoulders! Zara was a perfect fit for this role, kept in character throughout, well done, be proud! Ben Chane, the eldest in the cast at seventeen, took on the role of ‘Carl’ and provided us with a well-judged performance, good character created… loved his description of camping as a young boy. Sixteen-year-old Abi Meadows provides us with the ‘mystery character’ in this plot ‘Noush’! After Marco is kicked out of camp, the next time we see him he’s suffering from severe dehydration and is a bit delusional with ‘Noush’ by his side. They chat about their lives and talk about the previous night, which sounded so realistic… BUT, had I not been told at my after-show meet that Noush was a figment of Marco’s imagination, I would never have realised, simply because their conversations were so authentic… although I did think, after some wonderfully strange lighting effects that greeted the end the scene, that something wasn’t quiet as it seemed! But congrats Abi, you did a great job with this role, confident, assured, gave this character life, even though she was just a figment of Marco’s imagination… be ever so proud Abi. Finally… what can you say about thirteen-year-old Daisy Fowler’s portrayal of ‘Frankie’ Ricky’s dog… Ever present in this play, Daisy did a great job as the ‘frisky canine’. Loved the costume and the ‘bunches of hair’ that looked just like ‘floppy ears’ … well done Daisy …. well done everyone, not the easiest of plays to stage / produce… but you used your skills, you developed your characters, you worked ever so well as a team and the results were there for all to see!
Staging/Tech… minimalistic set used throughout, but it worked and afforded enough to allow the actors to do their thing… it was great to see the cast moving the stage furniture with confidence to affect the different scenes. Lighting and sound enhanced this production so much
Constructive Advice… what we spoke about during our after-show meet… always remember…the person(s) sat on the back row needs to hear ever word… even a stage whisper… project to that back wall!
I haven’t mentioned the end of the play… should you want to find out what happens at the end … ‘Artz for All’ are staging this play again as part of the NT Connections Youth Festival at The Grand Theatre in Blackpool on Tuesday 16th April, 2024…. go along and see/support them, you won’t be disappointed for sure!
Thank you so much for inviting me to this play, and thank you so much for affording me the privilege to speak with the Cast and Production Team after the show… look forward to seeing some of you along with ‘Shrek’ in the ‘Swamps around Duloc’ in May… see you all soon!
Stay safe and keep well
“Stronger Together”
Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep