Once Upon A Bridge, OSO Arts Centre Review

Reviews

20 Apr

Written by Russell for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.

OSO Theatre in Barnes, if you've never been, is a modern theatre on the beautiful Barnes Common, bang in the middle of the middle-classiest part of South West London. The epi-centre for ladies-that-lunch and where yummy mummies roam free and the Gillet-to-pink trousers-ratio is higher than anywhere else on the planet.

But what a lovely theatre it is. From the moment you arrive, the lovely box office lady and the super friendly bar staff make you feel very welcome and much appreciated.

Wow though.

Wow Sonya Kelly for your superb, super sharp, super funny writing.

Wow Lydia Sax for your excellent directing.

Wow to the three actors; Muireann Gallen, Sam Heap and Andre Bullock.

Brilliant on the nose performances from all three of them.

All of them felt so real, so convincing, so inhabiting their parts.

It felt like you were at the top end of what acting should be.

The story, if you're not aware, is about a real life incident, one morning in May 2017, where a jogger on Putney bridge deliberately pushed a young female pedestrian in front of a bus, because she happened to be in his way, and it was only down to the split second reactions of the amazing heroic driver that he managed to swerve her from certain death by bus wheels. The actual CCTV footage from the incident is briefly and delicately woven into the show and is shocking a piece of human behaviour that is very difficult to watch and believe.

The first half of the show Sonya Kelly introduces us to her imagined version of each of their back stories and all are presented without a wasted word or an ounce of fat.

The young female Irish barrister who'd recently arrived in London to seek her fortune and her destiny.

The city boy trader, arrogant and hungry for success.

And the noble bus driver, getting up at 3am, walking an hour to work to provide for his two young girls.

I loved this show.

It's everything you would hope for in an off West-end theatre.

Great story, clean and crisply told and introduces us all to a world of untapped talent.

I really hope this gets the chance to be seen by a much much wider audience.

And If it was possible to break three hundred plus years of tradition, as a reviewer, and to give more than five stars this would an eight nine or ten star show, just beautifully written, with just the right amount of poignancy, humour and humanity. Great performances all round, everyone involved should be very proud of what they have achieved here.

Thanks though to Sonya, your writing is touching and funny, and your story telling is spectacular.

The audience loved this show and the ovation at the end was spontaneous and heartfelt.

I cannot recommend this show highly enough, or the OSO theatre or Barnes Common (or Yummy mummies).