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Tu I Teraz (Here & Now)
Hampstead Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 20th December 2012 (Press Night)
"Marysia moved to England a long time ago. As far as she is concerned she has started a new life here with her teenage son, Kuba. But when her sister Anna arrives from Poland unexpectedly it forces her to think again about her choices. Should you leave your past behind and start over again or is where you come from the most important thing about you? And has Marysia really left everything from her past behind or is she hiding a secret?"
Tu I Teraz is an intriguing new play by Nicola Werenowska which explores issues surrounding immigration and family loyalties.
The play started fast paced with a dramatic argument between Marysia and Anna but immediately after the pace slowed down. Many scenes seemed far too dragged out with unnecessary dialogue while some of the scene changes were far from smooth. It was down to the cast to move the endless number of props around the stage between scenes. There was a hint of style which lacked consistency.
Nicola Werenowska has created four strong contrasting characters allowing each cast member to get their teeth into their respective roles. Ania Sowinski is outstanding as Marysia. Her portrayal was captivating. Ania explored Marysia's many layers and demanded the audiences attention.
However it was Mark Strepan who stole the show as Kuba. The Hampstead Theatre Downstairs is a small intimate theatre which allows audiences to appreciate the detail in an actor's performance. The detail in Mark's performance was truly amazing. As an audience we could see each tiny eye flicker and tiny head movement. It was a privilege to watch Mark perform.
As the story eventually progressed there were some powerful and moving moments. While Tu I Teraz is an inspiring play there are also many moments of light relief. The play feels incredibly fresh and gives you plenty to think about on your way home.
Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Is this staged in Polish or English ??????
ReplyDeleteThe majority is performed in English however there is some Polish!
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