Our House

Aug 14 2015 | By More

✭✭✭✭✩      House of Fun

Young critics scheme review
Broughton High School (Venue 207): Sat 8 – Sat 15 Aug 2015

Captivate Theatre deliver a smart, energetic young amateur production Our House, performed in Broughton High School.

In Our House, a jukebox musical based on the songs of Madness and adapted by Tim Firth, two concurrent stories are told. Both are possible futures for Joe Casey who grows up in London, watching as old residential homes are torn up to make way for new developments.

Our House SmalIn one future he makes nothing but good choices, in the other only bad ones. In one version, Joe becomes a miscreant and young offender, in the other a young entrepreneur with a thriving business. But is it possible that there’s more to life than a binary choice between the right and wrong paths?

Our House has a very successful story, able to organically incorporate the songs into the plot without them feeling forced. Not only that, but the story manages the far from insignificant feat of running two plots simultaneously, with the same cast of actors and characters.

The two are used effectively to contrast one another, and hammer home the central message of the musical – the choices we make define us, but it’s still possible to do the wrong things for the right reasons, and vice versa.

great chemistry

Director Sally Lyall delivers a slick and effective production as part of Captivate Theatre’s summer schools programme, with smooth transitions between scenes and between the play’s two stories. However it must be said that the transitions, while smooth, are a little confusing – it is largely left to the viewer to ascertain exactly which story one is watching, which is initially a little disorientating. Although the stories become clearly distinct as the play progresses, to begin with only very minor set changes used to signify the transition.

Strong performances are delivered by the show’s eleven-strong cast. Sandy Bain is empathetic and charismatic as Joe, and has great chemistry with the show’s other lead, Stephanie Cremona, who plays Sarah, the female lead and love interest of Joe with compassion and wisdom.

The supporting cast are also excellent; Les Fulton as Joe’s regret-filled absentee father who ties the story together is a particular standout, as is the sleazy Reecey (Max Reid). The musical numbers are delivered with skill and enthusiasm by both the small cast of main characters, and the large ensemble.

Our House is a well-crafted exploration of morality, delivered with energy and humor by a strong cast – thoroughly entertaining.

Running time 2 hours 15 minutes
Broughton High School (Venue 207) 29 East Fettes Avenue, EH4 1EG
Saturday 8 – Saturday 15 August 2015
Even dates: 2pm; odd dates: 6.30pm.
Book tickets on the EdFringe website: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/our-house
Captivate Theatre website: http://www.captivatetheatre.com/

ENDS

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