Bold, scintillating, and amped up to leave a mark on the audience, Vinegar Tom, directed by Gina Dickson, was a delight to watch. With attention to detail, the script managed to beautifully weave in nuances of the contemporary world that we live in with 17th century England.
On a dark set that compliments the dark humour, the play starts slow. Touching the issue of rising puritan extremism, there is an eerie ambiance wrapped with pangs of tension and fear.
Flowing flawlessly from one scene to another, performances by Samantha Hafey, Monique Marani, and Reilly Holt, deserve a special mention. All three do not hold back, adding a pinch of reality to the otherwise scripted characteristic of a theatre performance. Be it the twitching of fingers, a walk or even the volumes and tones, the dedication of the actors to consistency was welcome.
Towards the second half of the play, the humour is stronger and manages to actually make the audience think.
“The show has been a labour of love and to finally present it to a real audience was incredibly exciting. It started slow but I believe once the word went around, the shows started getting booked out. I could not be happier of how everything has turned out,” said Gina Dickson, who spoke to Lot’s Wife for a brief moment after the performance on Friday, May 17.
Every scene leaves the audience with room for thought and provokes the irrational mind to mend its ways. It urges one to think of what is important and questions the feminist or the lack of feminism in you.
Not to be too picky, but the transition from one scene to another could have been smoother. A few more blackouts and a lot more of leaving the stage silently, would have in my opinion made it as flawless as it could have been.
Having said this, the play is a must watch and is worth every penny that you will spend on it. The energy on the set is palpable and infectious, making it an experience rather than just another play.
