REVIEW: Second Life at Old Red Lion Theatre 29 August – 2 September 2023

‘Disparate characters and storylines are introduced but underdeveloped, which creates a fragmented experience.’

Second Life, written and directed by Heather Collier, is the debut play by the London/East Anglican theatre company Cathartic Party. The piece opens in a charity shop, where main characters Agnes, Poppy and Simon monologue of the allure of thrifting, specifically of the promise of escape via belongings leeched from another person’s life. The iteration currently being performed at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Angel is described as a research and development production and will therefore in this review be considered as a work in progress, rather than as a final product.

The story is built around a mystery, which appears initially intriguing. Three strangers are linked together by the apparent random distribution of items that once belonged to a murder victim, which neatly brings unlikely comrades together whilst setting up a high-stakes crime to be solved. Meanwhile, the piece appears to be political in motivation; there are self-conscious, superficial references to ecofeminism and of course the setting itself is linked inextricably with sustainability.

However, the play is not successful in combining these two ideas. Fundamentally, as it currently stands, the play is overlong and requires significant editing to create a satisfying flow. Disparate characters and storylines are introduced but underdeveloped, which creates a fragmented experience. The political theory that seems to underpin the motivation for this piece is underutilised; there are attempts, in dialogue, for characters to engage with questions around sustainability and the impact of exploitation on the natural world, however these statements do not interact in a meaningful way with the story being told. Frustratingly, Collier has identified the clear parallels between the criminal abuse of women and the exploitation of natural resources for the benefit of the rich, patriarchal status quo, but currently the play is not able to explore this.

Elsewhere in the production, the use of music and dance brings joy to an otherwise stilted experience. These more creative, artful moments are successful in presenting community, acceptance and self-expression, which could be central to a story about the way in which women and other minority groups use fashion to celebrate diversity. There are also some fine performances amongst the cast; Dotty Jones in a variety of roles is a particular highlight.

It is clear that this production was fuelled with great enthusiasm and a torrent of strong ideas. It is hoped that with some work, these ideas will begin to form a more cohesive product.

Second Life by Heather Collier at Old Red Lion Theatre, 29 August – 2 September, produced by Cathartic Party Theatre

Box Office: https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/second-life.html

Twitter @catharticparT

Reviewed by Natalie MacKinnon