If you think a play about the perils faced by young drivers sounds a like a public information film, you’d be right. ‘The Split Second’ is very much like a public information film, which is a shame, because it contains some brilliant acting. Rob Mallard as Jake and Mark Newsome as his best friend Sean put in believable, dorky and emotional performances, with Mallard’s mental collapse being especially impressive. Unfortunately, the script lingers too long after the “twist” and the heavy handed moral message is too explicit, dominating the latter half of the show rather than trusting the actors’ performances to impart the consequences of their actions. The result: great acting in a not so great play.
C aquila, 21 – 27 Aug, 2.00pm (2.45pm), £5.50 – £8.50, fpp299.
tw rating 3/5
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Sections: by Andrew Bell - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 3/5 | Tags: C Venues, Oldham Theatre Workshop
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