|
|
|
|
|
Draining the emotions
Blood
Birmingham Rep Door
**** TAMASHA are an emerging theatre company
who give a voice to new and emerging new writers. Their work highlights young adult life through
powerful themes and topics. With writing and theatre, Tamasha hit
audiences with a gritty style and hard-hitting urban stories. In
Blood, after
a not so spicy Nando’s date, Caneze and Sully forget their differences
and soon become an item. Caneze’s brother is not happy. In this powerful show, writer Emteaz Hussain
highlights the importance of reputation set in the heart of a Pakistani
community in the Midlands. When people grow up in the mind-set that
‘blood is thicker than water’, Caneze and Sully learn that love may be
thicker than blood. The show itself is a celebration of new writing
and is a testament to the talent of young artists. Hussain leaves a mark
on all audience members with both impact and relevant message and this
is delivered well by the skill of actors Kruppa Pratani and Adam
Samuel-Bal in an excellent two-handed show. The story is relatable and is a cradle to show a
tragic reality of what happens all too often in the modern day. The
development of relationships between the two teenagers are intricately
planned out. Thanks to the stylised direction from Esther Richardson, we
see the thriving relationship between Caneze and Sully, but learn about
external relationships with Husain’s brilliant narration. The writing expresses
the journey of emotions that are at the heart of teenage life.
Blood however
presents a feeling much more than romantic relationships. Hussain’s
words reflect the all too real and brutal realities that are linked to
being part of a close family and community. With
Blood, the
topics that usually go unsaid are bought to life and stare the audience
in the face so that they have nowhere to run. Actors Pratani and Samuel-Bal do an excellent job
in echoing Hussain’s strong voice. Through their portrayal and
connection with each other, they give light to an exceedingly powerful
experience from the audience. Pratani, who brings an excellent urban flourish
to teenager Caneze, is the character that shows conflict between
traditional values of her culture and the universal theme of love. In
her great portrayal, we see a teenager forced to grow up prematurely and
erase all that was taught about the importance of blood and family. Samuel-Bal gives an exceedingly mature
performance of the likeable Sully. At first a goofy teenager, Sully also
learns to stand alone after a series of events that span over three
years. Both work excellently together and the transition from what they
were at the beginning to how we see them by the end gives a fantastic
emotional presence. The set is cleverly structured with actors using
drawers, cupboards and benches to take us to the places that Hussain
alludes to. In the small, but interestingly setting we see the school
canteen, a Nando’s restaurant, Caneze’s bedroom that Sully sneaks into
through the window on several occasions, and even Pakistan. The useful
design only added to the sharp emotions of the production and gave
justice to the playwright’s themes. This story is a mirror
to modern brutality against a culture embedded with tradition and
reputation. In Blood,
Hussain marks the struggles and every day tragedies that many have had
to endure. This production is poignantly hard hitting, with a raw truth,
one that begs to be changed. To 23-05-15 Elizabeth Halpin
20-05-15
|
|
|
|
