Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Pleasance Courtyard
Reviewed on Friday 9th August 2013
Happy Never After is a fast paced new play by Hannah Rodger performed with style. Based on a true story, Happy Never After follows Jen who finds out she could have cancer just days after moving in with her boyfriend Neil. The play moves along quickly and explores what happens before, during and after Jen’s health scare.
The first five minutes are hysterically funny, you would never guess what is around the corner for the couple. Alice White and Nick Blakeley make the relationship between Jen and Neil appear very natural, one minute they are madly in love and the next one says something wrong and they are at each other’s throats.
Alice’s performance is considerably stronger than Nick’s. She portrays the character’s emotional turmoil perfectly. Her performance is both hilarious and heart wrenching at the same time. Nick appears a little wooden at times and I wanted him to loosen up and take more risks, although I thought this could be as his role is written badly at times. I was still able to sympathise for the character and the pair have great on-stage chemistry.
I love Gabriella Slade’s simplistic, yet stylish design. The play’s length is perfect, so much time passes in just an hour and fifteen minutes meaning there is no time to become bored or lose interest. The cast of two frantically move the set around to create each scene effectively. If you want to laugh, cry and be taken on an emotional journey you must see Happy Never After, just book to see a comedy afterwards!
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
You can see Happy Never After daily at the Pleasance Courtyard at 12.40 until 26th August 2013.
Photo Credit: Richard Lakos
Follow @West_End_Frame
You can see Happy Never After daily at the Pleasance Courtyard at 12.40 until 26th August 2013.
Photo Credit: Richard Lakos
Follow @West_End_Frame
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