Storytelling, strong characterisation and humour made us all feel more connected

New Era offered an evening of delightful short plays brought together with the title Only Connect which carries two meanings; making a connection between the head and the heart, between thoughts and feelings, but also alludes to the idea that true fulfilment comes when connecting with others. And this couldn’t be truer in the first play we watched.

The first of the plays, And It Makes Me Wonder, was written and directed by Jenni Collins and Mandy Clarke, a story of a real-life encounter near Reading in the early 80s between a teenage boy and an older woman at a bus stop. The interaction inspires the boy to follow his dreams into the star-studded world of becoming a musician, influenced by Pat, the old lady telling him stories of her famous son Jimmy Page, the guitarist from Led Zeppelin. It was a touching tale of crossing generational barriers and connecting with strangers.

Mandy Clark covered the role of Pat due to the original actor not being able to perform, but she inhabited the part with true authenticity of a wiser older woman sharing her kindness, stories and life experience. Mario Jones who plays Johnny, the directionless and lost teenager, portrayed the role well, showing his character’s aloof indifference, gradually warming to Pat and building a lovely interaction and rapport between the two actors. The supporting cast played their roles well with playfulness and comedy. The script is full of lovely humour and warmth.

The next two shorts were written by Alan Bennett. A Lady of Letters was first performed in 1988 by Patricia Routledge and more recently recorded by Imelda Staunton. This one-woman monologue was performed here by Sally Hall, with sharp wit and subtle pathos. The monologue reveals the loneliness and misplaced convictions of Miss Ruddock who obsessively sends letters of complaint to fill her empty life.

Irene Ruddock is a judgemental busybody but unexpectedly becomes liberated by incarceration; in prison she finds friendship and her life purpose. This is a poignant piece and darkly humorous.

The most outstanding performance of the evening was Luisa Rayner performing Alan Bennett’s Bed Among the Lentils monologue. Luisa subtly brings Susan’s repressed wit and loneliness to life, portraying the struggles of a vicar’s wife who slowly loses patience with the church community and seeks her own enjoyment through “the bottle” and an illicit relationship with a local shopkeeper. The piece is a powerful character study which is darkly funny and deeply moving.

This was a thoroughly engaging evening with strong direction overall, where storytelling, strong characterisation and humour made us all feel more connected in the end.

AMY TRIGWELL-JONES