Wish You Were Here, Without Compromise Theatre Review
Written by Jacqueline for Theatre and Tonic.
Set in a small town in Fife, Wish You Were Here is the story of a trio of working-class young men who are brought together for the first time in three years. Though they were once a tightly-knit found family, time and circumstance has pulled the men apart. On the night of an engagement party, secrets are revealed and relationships are pushed to the brink. Will the group make it through this, or have they been torn apart for good?
Kennedy Thomson was wonderful as Tommy, grappling with issues of leaving his hometown behind and struggling with gaining acceptance from his loved ones. Michael Johnson as Reece showed some beautiful character development as he evolved from a free-spirited dealer with no sense of danger to a mature, responsible parental figure dealing with the aftermath of his past decisions. Robbie Hail as Marcus is a complex portrayal of somebody who has become involved in substance misuse following a personal tragedy- a surprisingly common but often overlooked aspect of addiction. Arlene McKay as Erin arrives later in the story but grounds the show excellently, with such warmth and care for each of the characters. As Keegs, Lewis Robertson gives an intense and frenzied performance, leaving the audience holding their breath at moments as we never knew what his character would do next… or exactly what he was capable of.
Michael Johnson’s (who also plays Reece) script is tight, fast paced and covers a wide breadth of topics in such a short run time. Despite how many elements are covered, it feels as though everything slots together naturally, with nothing included that doesn’t provide depth and value to the characters. The topics covered are things that impact working-class communities all over the country and these stories need to be told. Lucy Pedersen’s direction is intimate and impactful. There is still an element of spontaneity within the cast, where the scenes feel fresh and new- I’d imagine that no two performances are identical.
Wish You Were Here is a poignant, timely piece of theatre which encapsulates so many of the issues facing people in Scotland today. These issues are approached tactfully and with dignity and care, and this show does well to give a voice to those whose stories can often go unheard. I cannot recommend this production enough and sincerely hope it has a long life beyond the Fringe.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
