Review: BONNIE & CLYDE, Town and Gown Pub & Theatre, Cambridge

Photo credit: Karl Steele

Not to be confused with the musical production, Adam Peck’s 2010 play Bonnie and Clyde has been given new life by the in-house team at Cambridge’s incredible new fringe venue, the Town and Gown Pub and Theatre.

Visiting the venue three weeks apart, what is instantly remarkable is the flexibility of the black box theatre and how the performance space can be transformed on a show-by-show basis. We enter upon the tense scene of a battered and bruised Bonnie and Clyde in what is thought to be one of their final hiding places prior to their deaths. The audience are seated on two sides, with the pair boxed into the confines of (essentially) a large sand pit with no escape. The sand, along with the crumpled sheets of paper lining the walls, provide a beautiful aesthetic when lit and sets the scene perfectly.

It is very much assumed that the audience know the back story of the pair in this piece. There are no introductions; we are thrust straight into the action, which is brave from a storytelling point of view but the strength of the performances from our dynamic duo in this production ensures you find your feet quickly. There are breaks in the duologue along the way, with lighting and sound used to good progressive effect.

First and foremost, this is an exposing character study and therefore requires two exceptional performers to portray the infamous criminal couple’s complex relationship: enter Sharni Tapako-Brown and James Edge as Bonnie and Clyde respectively. Whilst Adam Peck’s writing on paper may appear fairly uneventful, our talented twosome manage to successfully extract and tap into every emotion and in actual fact, the silence here speaks louder than words. The level of detail in their heavily researched performances, directed by the extremely talented, visual mastermind that is Karl Steele, is undeniable and the tension created is upheld for its 70-minute duration.

Tapako-Brown is a very striking and fiery Bonnie Parker. She commands the space and is a dominant force throughout, with her need to be loved and famous at the forefront of her actions. She lives every single moment of the piece and is totally fascinating to watch for all of the right reasons. Edge is perfectly cast alongside Tapako-Brown as Clyde Barrow. He is the more likeable character of the two but also utterly breaks your heart with his vulnerability laid bare. Whilst he generally shows a softer side, his volatility is still surface level and Bonnie knows how to push his buttons.

Raw, authentic and enthralling.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Jenny Ell

Bonnie and Clyde moves on to play at the Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre in Birmingham from 10-13 November, with tickets available here.