Show: The Greatest Play In The History Of The World
Location: Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
Dates: Tuesday June 29-Saturday July 3 2021
Times: 19.30
Running Time: 70 Mins
Age Rating: 12+
Performer: Julie Hesmondhalgh
Production Company: Tara Finney Productions in association with Hull Truck Theatre
Writer: Ian Kershaw
Our latest theatre review is for The Greatest Play In The History Of The World at Liverpool‘s Playhouse Theatre. The show runs from Tuesday June 29-Saturday July 3 2021. This is a major theatre show this summer at the Playhouse Theatre. So, let’s take a look at The Greatest Play In The History Of The World!
The Greatest Play In The History Of The World
Synopsis
This is a universal love story celebrating the human race through its whole glorious confusion, messiness and joy. So, a man wakes up during the night to receive a shock: the world is over! And yet as he looks through the crack in his bedroom curtains, he sees just one person. So, that person is a woman wearing a super-large David Bowie T-shirt, and she’s looking right at him. But what happens from there? Furthermore, how can they cope in a world where seemingly they’re the only two people remaining? Furthermore, this show provides incredible observation and heartbreaking beauty, as well as winning numerous awards in recent years.
Analysis
The play starts simply as the voiceover explains about the Golden Record. Then, we hear a phonograph record that was included in the Voyager project. So, from there, aspects of human development sent into the unknown by a team led by Carl Sagan. Additionally, we have the sounds playing as the theatre is filling up. So, there’s the unmistakable greetings, the lead guitar strings of Johnny B. Goode and Sagan’s footsteps and laughter are played to us. The stage is simply set. And an array of single light bulbs giving a warm glow to the bare stage. Two tall metal storage shelves sit centre back with what looks like shoe boxes sitting neatly on the shelves.
Julie Hesmondhalgh invites us into the world of Preston Road. Now, she sets the scene well as the natural storyteller she is. And Hesmondhalgh has an effortless quality about her that we instantly warm to. Then, we learn about two singletons that reside in the street: Tom and Sara. So, Tom is a 31-year-old lover of symmetry and words who spends his days polishing his windowsill. As for Sara, she’s a teacher who definitely knows the difference between a storm and a hurricane.
We examine what would happen if time just stopped. How everything would be silent and if the world was on pause. At exactly 04.40 one December morning this happens and Tom and Sara meet unexpectedly face to face.
However, Tom and Sara aren’t the only residents of Preston Road. We also hear about the unruly kids at number 58 and the neighbours of Tom, Mr & Mrs Forshaw. Now, the shoeboxes on the shelves begin to make sense as Hesmondhalgh uses their contents to bring the characters to life. Indeed, they are no longer a boring pair of slippers or women’s boots as they start to embody the myriad characters that reside in Preston Road. Once we’ve learnt about said character, the shoes are placed back in the box on the shelf until the next time they are discussed. The movement that comes from this is welcome as a one-woman show could be stagnant, it could be stilted but Hesmondhalgh flows to each shoebox so freely and her natural storyteller’s ability takes over.
Throughout the production, we hear more about The Golden Record in a series of pre-recorded voice clips. Furthermore, the expressive lighting of Jack Knowles is intentionally simple in design. This was to ensure that nothing distracted from the tour de force of performance of Hesmondhalgh.
Summary
Ian Kershaw’s writing shines. Indeed, I think this is brilliantly written, it’s full of wit, warmth and a perfect balance between comedy and prose. The audience is brought into the brilliantly realised characters, we are fully invested in the story and as it comes together it becomes extraordinarily moving and dare I say it, joyful!?
I like to describe this play as wholesome. It’s an evening of simplicity, and that’s not in a negative way at all. Plus, it’s like coming home and putting your comfy slippers on, no pun intended. And it’s a perfect play to generate that theatre spark after such a long absence.
Notes
Target Audience: 12+
Content: No Content Likely To Offend
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding
The Greatest Play In The History Of The World Further Links
The Greatest Play In The History Of The World runs at the Playhouse Theatre from Tuesday June 29-Saturday July 3 2021. So, to purchase tickets, please click here.
To find out more information about this show, click here.
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