Elegy for an Echo, theSpace @ Jurys Inn, Review

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Rating (out of 5)
3
Show info
Company
Gin & Chronic Theatre Company
Production
Chris Townsend (writer), Katie Stephen (director / sound designer), Ailis Paterson (director), Alba Besson (designer).
Performers
Joshua Kerr (Conner), Michaela Gauci (Jen), Chris Bain (Mitchell), Heather Brown (Flora), Sarah Schlesinge (The Supplier).
Running time
50mins

Connor is planning a special date night. Red rose; take-away; wine. It’s important that they make the best of the time that they have together.

His fiancé Jen is loving the attention but is distracted by work, blissfully unaware that for her time has already run out. She only exists as a construct of Connor’s memory and sensory inputs, and the only thing that is keeping her “alive” is the experimental drug Exspira.

Now, with the drug trials coming to an end and stocks being recalled Conner needs to face up to being without her. He may be addicted to the drug; he is certainly dependent on her.

As friends try to get him to move on he is given a lifeline – an improved version of the brain altering drug without the painful side effects. It just requires him to sign up to supplying a favour in return.

He needs to come to terms with chasing echoes, ghosts, but when there is a break in the supply chain being a cog in the system will require him to determine how far he is willing to go and what is better than nothing?

Drama which edges on science fiction is often difficult to pull off, something that seems to be acknowledged here with nods to The Adjustment Bureau and The Matrix. Treading a similar path is always going to feel a little derivative but the production manages to keep it personal and believable by grounding it in a domestic setting.

The story is neatly packaged into 50 minutes, but it does feel like there is more to tell. Some fleshing out of the other characters and their own demons might be useful. Simply staged, there is some unnecessary distraction when characters come on between scenes to move props.

With some excellent, heartfelt performances this modest debut production succeeds where big budget ones have failed and shows huge promise.

Show Times: 4 – 26 (not 6, 20) August 2017 at 8.10 pm.

Tickets: £7 (£5)

Suitability: 16+

Note: Co-director Katie Stephen is also a theatre reviewer for EdinburghGuide.