Theatre / Reviews
Review: The Window, Old Vic
We all have neighhours but how many of us actually know them? And do we even like them?! Would we happily get involved with them if they needed something or would we leave it to someone else? These are all questions that the performance of ‘The Window’ raises in your mind.
This thought provoking and extremely engaging monologue, written by Silva Semerciyan, is on at the Bristol Old Vic until the 25th of October and last night’s performance was as intriguing and professional as it gets.
Charlotte Melia is the one and only performer, a woman who has recently had a baby called Clara with her husband Nath. She’s a bubbly, friendly sort – the community type who cares above the call of duty.
When Nath decides to install a window into their kitchen, and they ask the neighhours called Ted and Sally if it is alright to do this, a relationship between both parties starts.
Sadly Sally passes away due to a long battle with cancer, which leaves Ted in isolation in his now big and lonely Bristol abode. But, rarely commendably, Sally decides her family are going to come to the rescue and a beautiful bond is struck up between them all.
However – after a while, things start to turn sinister when Ted does something unthinkable. There were audible gasps around the theatre as this part of the story unfolds and everyone gets so immersed in the plot. You can almost hear people’s minds speaking out loud – What would you do if your neighbour did that to you?
Melia is so intense and believable in her acting that you can’t tear your eyes away from her. And she has no back up so it’s a tough job. It’s just her, one chair, one cup of tea and a window for 60 minutes of your undivided attention.
No spoilers in this review, no one wants to read that, so to sum up – let it just be said that this drama is about human interaction at its finest and darkest. A must see.
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