REVIEW
LIGHTHOUSE
By Justin Cartledge
Directed by Amy Clayton
ON TOUR
THE PALACE THEATRE, DIXON STUDIO
3rd April 7pm
3rd April 9pm
NOT TO BE MISSED
Starring Justin Cartledge, Darren Matthews & Richard Orchard-Rowe
LIGHTHOUSE
By Justin Cartledge
Directed by Amy Clayton
ON TOUR
THE PALACE THEATRE, DIXON STUDIO
3rd April 7pm
3rd April 9pm
NOT TO BE MISSED
Starring Justin Cartledge, Darren Matthews & Richard Orchard-Rowe
Friends. Comrades. Enemies…
Caillte Lighthouse. The coast of Angus, North Sea, just after WW1
Caillte Lighthouse. The coast of Angus, North Sea, just after WW1
Lighthouse comes direct from the Edinburgh Fringe, with glowing reviews, to Southend’s Palace Theatre Dixon Studio.
The three hander is performed in just 55 minutes on a sparse stage with just a table and chairs at centre and a coat stand up stage, used for the clothing changes of the characters who come and go from the Lighthouse within to the stormy sea drenched rocks that encapsulate the beacon aloft which signals ships and vessels away from their danger.
Before the play begins we are able to get a sense of the piece as the sounds of lashing waves and seagulls penetrate through to audience for the practically sold out 7pm production (there was another at 9pm) in the intimate Dixon Studio. The air conditioning in the Studio was possibly an unintentional aide to feeling immersed in the theatrical goings on, pumping out a rather chilly breeze too.
The scene is set with the arrival of James, who is being trained up as a lighthouse keeper by Mac (Darren Matthews) and Morgan Justin Cartledge), who, it turns out, have known each other for 15 years and have clearly put in a fair few shifts together at the Lighthouse. There’s a light hearted banter between, them before James arrives, about how they’ve sent their new rookie outside in the cold on a seagull counting task and thereafter there’s a certain sense of camaraderie as they all get to know each other a bit better. The timeline is post World War 1 and we discover that they have all served as soldiers although there is a reticence in any elaboration about their pasts. The curiosity creates tension although each character reveals enough information for us to get a sense of what they are about. In fact throughout there is a continuous undercurrent of tension and torment and not a lot of knowing why. It certainly makes the audience think.
After a period of lost radio contact and lights flickering on and off, the tension thickens when James suddenly sees a man staring back at him from the rocks. The other two men don’t believe him; especially when he says the man is as dry as a bone and there’s no sign of a boat anywhere. The atmosphere worsens the moment we hear a knocking on the door and all three men prepare themselves for the stranger's entrance, as do the audience. At this point our imaginations are made to work overtime as in slow motion and in dim light, the men grab hold of an invisible man and prop him up in a chair. It is deduced that the man must be a German, he is unconscious and not in a good way and the three don’t really know what to do with him, especially when they discover a bag of diamonds on his person which they deduce must be worth around six hundred thousand pounds. This is where each man seemingly shows his true colours although we never can really tell who is telling the truth and who is genuinely tortured from their war experiences. Also, we can't see the man - but can they?? When the German is found dead and has been strangled, neither of the men confess the killing and it is left to the audience to try and figure out who of the shell shocked and war haunted lighthouse keepers is the culprit.
Each man plays their role with true conviction with some very naturalistic performances showing underlying themes of trust, friendship and sanity. Richard Orchard-Rowe as James possibly portrays the more investable of characters, as he progresses from naive rookie to a man willing to kill for his share of the diamonds.
Justin Cartledge who plays Morgan is also the writer of Lighthouse and along with Amy Clayton’s direction has done a good job of bringing his words to life on stage. It would have been nice for the audience to perhaps be allowed a bit further into each man's psyche in order to do a little more delving as to who was the true protagonist of the piece, but it certainly left lots of room for thought and reflection.
With such a beautifully played twist at the end, it's a shame that you never really get the sense of the play coming to a conclusion - although perhaps that is the intention. All said, this is a cleverly played piece of theatre from a talented cast and it's certainly encouraging to see original and innovative theatre getting an opportunity to get out there for new audiences to appreciate.
Review: Kim Tobin
For tickets and more information visit https://www.earlydoors.org.uk/copy-of-an-awesome-exit
The Courtyard Theatre, London - 9th and 10th April
The Brighton Fringe - 23rd May
The Space, London - 25th July
Camden Fringe - 6th to 9th August
The Edinburgh Fringe - 24th to 29th August.
The three hander is performed in just 55 minutes on a sparse stage with just a table and chairs at centre and a coat stand up stage, used for the clothing changes of the characters who come and go from the Lighthouse within to the stormy sea drenched rocks that encapsulate the beacon aloft which signals ships and vessels away from their danger.
Before the play begins we are able to get a sense of the piece as the sounds of lashing waves and seagulls penetrate through to audience for the practically sold out 7pm production (there was another at 9pm) in the intimate Dixon Studio. The air conditioning in the Studio was possibly an unintentional aide to feeling immersed in the theatrical goings on, pumping out a rather chilly breeze too.
The scene is set with the arrival of James, who is being trained up as a lighthouse keeper by Mac (Darren Matthews) and Morgan Justin Cartledge), who, it turns out, have known each other for 15 years and have clearly put in a fair few shifts together at the Lighthouse. There’s a light hearted banter between, them before James arrives, about how they’ve sent their new rookie outside in the cold on a seagull counting task and thereafter there’s a certain sense of camaraderie as they all get to know each other a bit better. The timeline is post World War 1 and we discover that they have all served as soldiers although there is a reticence in any elaboration about their pasts. The curiosity creates tension although each character reveals enough information for us to get a sense of what they are about. In fact throughout there is a continuous undercurrent of tension and torment and not a lot of knowing why. It certainly makes the audience think.
After a period of lost radio contact and lights flickering on and off, the tension thickens when James suddenly sees a man staring back at him from the rocks. The other two men don’t believe him; especially when he says the man is as dry as a bone and there’s no sign of a boat anywhere. The atmosphere worsens the moment we hear a knocking on the door and all three men prepare themselves for the stranger's entrance, as do the audience. At this point our imaginations are made to work overtime as in slow motion and in dim light, the men grab hold of an invisible man and prop him up in a chair. It is deduced that the man must be a German, he is unconscious and not in a good way and the three don’t really know what to do with him, especially when they discover a bag of diamonds on his person which they deduce must be worth around six hundred thousand pounds. This is where each man seemingly shows his true colours although we never can really tell who is telling the truth and who is genuinely tortured from their war experiences. Also, we can't see the man - but can they?? When the German is found dead and has been strangled, neither of the men confess the killing and it is left to the audience to try and figure out who of the shell shocked and war haunted lighthouse keepers is the culprit.
Each man plays their role with true conviction with some very naturalistic performances showing underlying themes of trust, friendship and sanity. Richard Orchard-Rowe as James possibly portrays the more investable of characters, as he progresses from naive rookie to a man willing to kill for his share of the diamonds.
Justin Cartledge who plays Morgan is also the writer of Lighthouse and along with Amy Clayton’s direction has done a good job of bringing his words to life on stage. It would have been nice for the audience to perhaps be allowed a bit further into each man's psyche in order to do a little more delving as to who was the true protagonist of the piece, but it certainly left lots of room for thought and reflection.
With such a beautifully played twist at the end, it's a shame that you never really get the sense of the play coming to a conclusion - although perhaps that is the intention. All said, this is a cleverly played piece of theatre from a talented cast and it's certainly encouraging to see original and innovative theatre getting an opportunity to get out there for new audiences to appreciate.
Review: Kim Tobin
For tickets and more information visit https://www.earlydoors.org.uk/copy-of-an-awesome-exit
The Courtyard Theatre, London - 9th and 10th April
The Brighton Fringe - 23rd May
The Space, London - 25th July
Camden Fringe - 6th to 9th August
The Edinburgh Fringe - 24th to 29th August.
Follow Mac and Morgan, two experienced keepers and their training of James, before things occur that question their loyalty, friendship and ultimately, their sanity.
LIGHTHOUSE is a gripping piece that delves into the human psyche of trust, paranoia and greed with stylish, well-placed humour, jeopardy, suspense and a stellar cast.
Listed by The Herald as one of the Top 20 Must-See Shows of EdFringe 2022, LIGHTHOUSE will take you on a 55-minute journey to hell and back like no other.
‘Rock solid performances and a great sense of atmosphere go a long way to illuminate this new murder mystery thriller. Boasting simple effects which add greatly to the dread-filled atmosphere’ - ★★★★ The Scotsman
TICKET LINK: https://share.google/UVQDSpZ4pAE1ksLiT
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
£15
55 minutes, no interval
LIGHTHOUSE is a gripping piece that delves into the human psyche of trust, paranoia and greed with stylish, well-placed humour, jeopardy, suspense and a stellar cast.
Listed by The Herald as one of the Top 20 Must-See Shows of EdFringe 2022, LIGHTHOUSE will take you on a 55-minute journey to hell and back like no other.
‘Rock solid performances and a great sense of atmosphere go a long way to illuminate this new murder mystery thriller. Boasting simple effects which add greatly to the dread-filled atmosphere’ - ★★★★ The Scotsman
TICKET LINK: https://share.google/UVQDSpZ4pAE1ksLiT
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
£15
55 minutes, no interval
