Review: THE VERGE OF FOREVER, The Other Palace Studio
Photo credit: Holly Burton
The Verge of Forever positions itself as ‘the drama school audition story’ and promises to be an ‘unforgettable experience that combines stunning visuals, soaring music, and powerful storytelling’. Packed with the potential to be a groundbreaking piece of theatre that is relatable for performers and gives an insight into the process of auditioning, but does it deliver?
The story follows the modern love story of teenagers Marie (Scarlett Ayers) and Leo (Olly Novello) who fall in love through talking online and support each other through the complexities of coming of age.
Novello as Leo is lively and brings welcome elements of humour including a memorable ‘Instagram-tango’ infused song, whilst Ayers as Marie shows off her controlled powerhouse voice.
The ‘love story’ in this two-handler is somewhat underexplored and emphasises the challenges and destructive elements that the characters encounter rather than establishing any genuine heartfelt connection between them, leaving the audience incredulous about their ‘love’. This disconnection is also evident throughout the show as the dialogue is often incongruent with the characterisation.
The primary shortcoming lies in the incoherent writing which achieves only a superficial exploration of a myriad of topic areas without satisfying audience expectations. Whilst the show has the potential to provide an interesting insight into the complexities and nuance of the plight of young performers and the industry, it fails to authentically convey the ‘love, ambition and sacrifice’ entwined within the experience of drama school. Despite the set being reminiscent of the bedroom-walls of a musical-theatre impassioned teen, there are scant references to the purported theatrical passions of the characters.
The songs by Novello are forgettable and the musical direction by Niall Caserly keeps the competent voices of the performers at a constant extreme with raucous belting or fast-paced tongue twisters that become jarring and leaves the audience unsettled. A greater variety of vocal dexterity may have better engaged the audience and made the songs more memorable.
** Two stars
Reviewed by: Marina Holmes Smith
The Verge of Forever plays at The Other Palace Studio until 20 August, with further information here.