The grand Georgian House on Charlotte Square is a most original setting for this intimate, music-drama. Designed by Robert Adam, the townhouse was purchased by John Lamont, for £1,800 in 1796. Preserved with all the original architectural features, the Drawing Room is graciously furnished with a chandelier, period portraits and antique furniture.
The small audience is seated in a large circle iwithin this makeshift, ‘theatre in the round.’ Charlie and Rob sit, back to back, akin to lying in bed. Charlie cannot sleep and wants Rob to wake up and swap sides, but he is not budging an inch. The next morning, Charlie seems to want to make amends and offers to make eggs, “scrambled, over easy?” but communication is strained.
Their mutual feelings of discord are played out through the strident chords of their respective cello and guitar. The carpeted Drawing Room creates perfect acoustics and a pure resonating sound.
Trying to behave more like a couple and do normal things together, they discuss going to see a film. The dialogue between Charlie (with a cool, casual, laid back American attitude) and Rob (a precise, concise and quietly spoken Brit) is all very cultured and intellectual, in Woody Allen mood and mode. Conversation is stilted with no sense of close connection, disagreeing on vital decisions, (whether to have children), and everyday plans to see family and friends.
“I can’t do what I want, it’s always Rob’s idea!.’ In simmering frustration, Charlie plays the cello – attacking the strings with a bow in a hard, harsh scrape, releasing emotion with a scream of pain.
And then it begins to rain. All night, all day.
Perhaps as a contrasting reflection on the global pandemic, the modern day plague, the couple face the disastrous effect of climate change. As Rob explains, weather and sea level warnings were reported between 1890 and 1930. ‘We are all fxxked!.’ Venturing out to get supplies, Rob recognises the place, ‘there used to be a Tesco here’ – the simple comment hitting hard with tragi-comic humour.
Devastating changes in weather could not be more topical, as seen on recent news reports of heatwaves, forest fires, torrential rain and floods causing severe life threatening conditions in California, Canada, India, Australia, Germany and India.
Instead of words, the expressive music score reflects their disbelief at the bleak, barren environment of the city: slow mournful passages shift into a vibrant tone with frenetic pace, before a final melodic, lyrical movement. The calm after the storm as they come to terms with this apocalyptic change of life they have experienced together.
At the EFF 2001, Cryptic Theatre presented ‘Journeys and Memories’ combining historic film footage, dance and live music, amidst the dark shadowy surroundings of St. Stephen’s Church. Magical. In comparison, the Georgian House is not quite the ideal setting for this production; in a different venue, this innovative drama could be enhanced further with news reel images and lighting to illustrate the narrative with powerful realism and atmospheric vision.
As an experimental, minimalist chamber piece, 'We Just Need to Get Through This' is a creative, richly-crafted blend of eloquent music and poetic text. Performed with quiet, soulful emotion, the moments of heartbreaking silence speak louder than words.
Show Times:
6, 7, 11-14, 18-21 August @ 20:00.
Ticket Prices, £8/ £6.50
Also available to view online. See Fringe Website
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/we-just-need-to-get-through-this-1