REVIEW: Alison Skilbeck’s UNCOMMON GROUND at Old Red Lion 21 – 25 November 2023
‘wry and witty … well observed and true’ ★★★★
Here’s an uncontentious opinion, followed by two that are more contestable – Alan Bennett is a really good playwright. Probably not much argument there. Alan Bennett’s best work is his series of Talking Heads monologues. Still with me? Next one – Alison Skilbeck’s UNCOMMON GROUND is a set of monologues that bear favourable comparison with Bennett’s work.
Alison Skilbeck is a hugely experienced actor, a veteran of The Archers and extensive touring, who has turned her hand to writing her own material. UNCOMMON GROUND was created during lock-down, when she took her socially-distanced daily walk around Clapham Common, and something of that isolation colours the seven monologues she delivers, on a bare stage, with six small piles of character-illustrating props and bits of costumes. She inhabits six different creatures, gives them a grounded realness, a lot of wry self-reflection, and a beautifully drawn character in a very few minutes. Each of the six is well articulated, distinct, and interesting. All of them are flawed, all of them are recognisable, all of them are better known and better regarded after Ms. Skilbeck has presented them. There’s a few out-loud laughs, but it’s wry and witty more than it’s comedic, well observed and true rather than objects of fun. Always humane, the actor saves her most humane performance for last, when the tree that has been the focal point for the first six pieces gets to have its own turn in the spotlight, and gets to passionately advocate for the importance of trees. It’s a good argument for anyone, let alone a Clapham Common oak tree.
The piece has been touring extensively since Alison Skilbeck unveiled it in Edinburgh in August. There aren’t any dates for more shows, but if Ms. Skilbeck appears anywhere near you, make a point of getting a ticket. She’s really good, like Alan Bennett.
Photography: Pete Le May
https://www.alisonskilbeck.com/
Reviewed by Chris Lilly
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