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Watson's House - House Play 2008

It Can Damage Your Health

Yet again following on from the success of last year’s sitcom style play, I felt that Watsons delivered a solid and convincing performance of ‘It can damage your health’ by Eric Chappell, achieving a good balance between natural flowing comedy and the claustrophobic atmosphere of life in a clinic.

Watsons struck me as being a ‘dark horse’ in the run up to the play: only on the day of the play itself did I notice their film feature posters, which were professionally designed with their eye-catching and personalised, ‘Mike Squire Production’ format. The lighting, prop and setting were understated only to enhance the audience’s focus upon the clinical atmosphere drawing us in to get to know the character better. A particularly effective contrast between light and darkness was achieved and two bursts of music during the play were smoothly managed and helped to add variety, preventing the play from being too static.

The three main roles were acted with ease and demonstrating versatility in their roles, from the innocent, victimised Gary (Toby Marshman), to the melodramatic but witty Palmer (Rob Fairbrother), to Simon – as the manipulative but amiable Higgins. A huge congratulation must go to this trio: Simon for his monologues which added colour to the play with his dramatic gestures fitting his role perfectly, to Rob for his excellent diction and the moments of humour he added to the play and Toby for his accurate portrayal of what was an awkward character. Strong supporting performances were given by James Lunn, Mike Squire and Tom Oliver and particular mention must be made of Maxim Voloshin with his convincing act as a female. His voice could have fooled me if I hadn’t know it was an all-male cast!

Apart from a few minor technical difficulties at the end and some slips with lines, I believe this play really was commendable not just for its humour, but for the themes of rivalry, solitude and insecurity, which were all brought to the fore in the play. Much praise must go to Michael Squire for his directing and to all involved!

Camilla Reece-Trapp

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