WHERE ARE WE NOW - REVIEW - ANNKA KULTYS GALLERY

Where We Are Now, written by Cal Newman and directed by Marley Brown is a 45-minute glimpse into the moment when Florence (Greta Hansen) walks into a music shop and runs into ex-boyfriend Miles (Newman). This show explores toxic relationships, grief, personal growth and change through being unexpectedly confronted by your past.

The play is performed in Annka Kulty’s Gallery space, which is a good choice for a small-scale performance with no set. The opening scene begins with Hansen and Newman facing each other, standing still. There is a record player at the front of the stage and as the Vinyl starts to play we see the two explore different emotions through their facial expressions, establishing the tension between the characters. Although this opening gains the audience’s attention it is quite lengthy with not much happening, and so the effectiveness of this moment is then lost as you wait for the action to start, wondering when something new will happen.

Hansen gave an emotive and vulnerable performance as Florence, bringing Newman’s naturalistic dialogue to life, through the use of her physicality, facial expressions and vocal delivery. She does a wonderful job of embodying Florence’s grief and trauma when she is discussing her mother, and this accompanied by Brown’s direction of keeping her back to Newman, staring directly into the audience adds to this vulnerable and important moment in the play.

Newman is successful at embodying the intensity and controlling nature of Miles, but at times his delivery of the text fell flat, lacking the impact intended. Newman and Hansen have great chemistry throughout the play, establishing the characters’ relationship dynamic through the subtext and the way they interact within the space.

Where We Are Now has a solid and intriguing premise and a lovely naturalistic structure; It does however feel like it’s lacking grit. The story has a lot of potential and I like the relationships and themes explored but it feels like the show could be pushed further for the delivery of this story and the topics covered to be more impactful.

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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