Jonathan Dodd shares his review of the Close Quarter Productions and Theatre Reviva!’s brand new production of After All These Years, in association with Julia Holofcener of Holofcener Ltd. Ed
Last Thursday we went to see a new play, called ‘After All These Years’, at the Antony Minghella Theatre at Quay Arts in Newport.
On a hot summer evening there was a good audience for a Thursday night, and there was a pleasant buzz of conversation before the play began.
Setting the scene
After All These Years is a simple production, with three scenes and one change of scenery, the first two scenes taking place at more or less the same time, and the last scene two years later, all in the same unnamed seaside town.
There are four characters, who all know each other very well, and little in the way of action, with most of the drama taking place in the dialogue between these four.
Deservedly won the Outstanding Theatre Award
This production deservedly won the Outstanding Theatre Award at the Brighton Fringe this year.
We were very lucky to have the opportunity to see it.
Quality actors with distinguished careers
The characters were played by Jeffrey Holland, Graham Pountney, Carol Ball and Judy Buxton, all familiar from their long and distinguished careers.
They were very much at home, in their characters, and amongst themselves, which immediately brought to life the longevity and complexity of their mingled friendships and careers.
The actors captured the mood perfectly
The first scene was entirely between Jeffrey Holland and Graham Pountney, in a bar, as they talked and reminisced, and complained about the effects of getting old. The second scene mirrored this, with Carol Ball and Judy Buxton reprising the first scene, but in their own very different way.
The audience appreciated this, and many found they had the same complaints and attitudes in common. There were some good jokes, and moments of laughter, and the actors captured the mood perfectly. And then the men arrived, and things heated up.
Past and present and future brought into stark focus
The dialogue crackled, and the past and present and future were brought into stark focus, especially when different versions and opinions were aired, and there was much to be made of the idea of why and how decisions are made, and whether it’s good or bad to stick with what you know, and whether accepting what you have, warts and all, is something you decide, or something you get used to, because making changes is risky.
Very much the devil you know against the unknown outcome of making changes.
These were all explored in the lives of each character, and the play left much to think about in the minds of the audience. The writer, Giles Cole, very skillfully wove these threads through the conversation and argument between everyone on stage, dropping hints and giving enough information for audience members to notice and remember in the light of later events, without spelling anything out, and leaving enough blanks in the accounts of the characters to be mused over long afterwards.
An interesting and thought-provoking production
I really enjoyed watching After All These Years, and hearing snatches of conversation between audience members on the way out makes me believe that everyone else felt the same.
It was interesting and thought-provoking, and explored areas not often aired, as in the particular topics of importance to those of later years, not often discussed in such detail and clarity.
Everything worked well
The four actors brought energy and life to their characters, the dialogue flowed smoothly, and everything worked well. I was delighted to find out in the notes that the set and props were designed by the Creative Industries Department of the Isle of Wight College.
I enjoyed the direction of Graham Pountney, who also acted, and I also thank the producers, and Julia Holofcener, who has close connections with the Isle of Wight, for bringing this production to Quay Arts.
I enjoyed a most entertaining and interesting evening, and hope to see more such productions in the future.
