Maskers' Studio Theatre

Monday 17^th to Saturday 22^nd May 2010

The show was well received and ran to full houses throughout the week.

The Southampton Evening Echo wrote:

Despite the danger of the shifting relationship games in Patrick Marber's cool '90s play becoming monotonous, they give plenty of opportunities for its cast to beguile, shock and impress. The first meeting of Alice (Louise Jones) and Dan (Rob Praine) is played with a lovely light touch. Jones remains thoroughly appealing throughout, but could perhaps push the vulnerable and wordly extremes of her character a little more. Praine keeps Dan unpredictable for as long as he can but succumbs to Marber's overheated plot twists in the final scenes, while Sara-Jayne Wareham's restrained performance as Anna almost gets her through unscathed. Steve Cosier's claim, as Larry, to have humble origins, does not always ring true, but he has convincing moments of humour, threat and passion.

Director's Notes

Patrick Marber wrote Closer in 1996 and it premiered at the National Theatre in 1997, I first became aware of it as a result of the film adaptation in 2004 and subsequently read the play. It is recognised as one of the most significant British plays of the 1990s and marks a resurgence of provocative new theatre writing; I found it to be, and still do, utterly enthralling. The play is an intense scrutiny of human behaviour and sexuality; it is at times, as one critic commented, darkly savage in theme and mood and can be uncomfortable viewing. However, at other times it is funny, charming and poignant and I think it lends itself perfectly to the intimacy of the studio. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience from casting, right through to the show and it's been a pleasure working with four talented actors. Rehearsals have highlighted to me beautifully constructed and written this play is and I hope you find it be an evening well spent.

Ian Wilson May 2010