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River's Up by Alex Jones

Current reviews include:
The Stage and The Oxford Times

The Stage
River’s Up
Friday 6 March 2009 by Andrew Blades

With eerie prescience, Alex Jones wrote this play about the meteorological consequences of climate change in 2000. As he notes, Britain has experienced several flooded summers since then, particularly in the area in which this play is set - the banks of the River Severn.

In just under two hours, he works up to a worst case scenario while resisting the temptation to preach. The result is a finely wrought tragicomedy that provides laughs, tears and food for thought in equal measure.

The central relationship between Sally (Nicky Goldie) and Tom (Richard Stone) is handled beautifully. Sometimes fractious, sometimes amorous, it is a believable portrait of fifty-somethings caught in the crossfire of events beyond their immediate control.

Through the first half, Tom seems beleaguered and powerless, a man teetering on the edge of failure, but his good sense prevails in the second half.

By contrast, Sally is initially a tired sceptic, only to rediscover her joie de vivre as the two attempt to row to safety.

They are both winning performances, with an easy humanity that makes everyman figures of this bickering husband and wife.

Laura McEwen’s stage design is also impressive, allowing for downstairs, upstairs and upriver within the small spaces of OTTC’s run-sheet.

The only snags for some may be the occasionally adult material and some mild swearing, but all in all this is a highly recommendable production.

OTTC, The Annexe, SS Mary and John School, Meadow Lane Oxford, OX4 1TJ
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