One Fine Day
One Fine Day is a tragic monologue about a father who, having lost access to his children when social services decide he has been inappropriate towards them, decides to kidnap them for a day on the beach.
It’s an intense piece of theatre, and Jake Addley’s performance, although strong in parts, isn’t quite enough to carry us through the 90 minutes.
Although he warms up significantly after the first ten minutes or so, the show doesn’t start with quite enough energy or punch (not helped by some poor diction). Addley’s caricatures are a little weak; the postures he assumes are particularly ineffective, and rather misjudged for this style. He does, however, maintain a compelling intensity in the intimate space.
The script is peppered with unnecessary detail, and is slightly muddled in its central characterisation of Eddie. It could probably lose about half an hour and be a much punchier as a result.
In any monologue, but particularly when the material is sensitive, we need to relate to and feel for the central character, and it never quite happens here. The ending is rather uninspiring, and the plot resolves unconvincingly. Bizarre though it sounds to say, this should be more tragic, more involving and more depressing.
But that said there are some touching moments, even if the end result is an overlong and not particularly engrossing experience.
– Chris Wheeler
