Knife Edge

Synopsis

A heart felt story about love, family and the lengths a parent would go for their child. In January my son was stabbed on his way home from work. He died on the pavement before the ambulance arrived. There were many witnesses but not one had the courage to stand up in court. We all know who is responsible. Therefore I have no alternative. I challenge you to a duel to the death. Yesterday I was an ordinary printer. Today I am Judge, Jury and Executioner.

Our Review:

17 April 2010

When Brian Shelton loses his son to a knife attack his main focus becomes his obsession to make the culprit of the crime pay. In an act of revenge, guilt and torment he invites his fellow residents to witness a dual to the death where either he or the young man’s killer will die that night.  Wwill the guilty party show up and will Brian be able to go through with it?

This is the premise for Mark Whiteley’s new thriller, which on paper looks like it could be an interesting look at a father’s breakdown from the loss of his child but, on stage proves to be something far less gripping.

A show dealing with this subject matter should evoke emotion from audience members, allow them to feel the father’s pain and almost understand why he’s taking such extreme measures, but the clunky script instead spends much of the evening putting everything in such a matter of fact way which means that any connection to him or his situation is lost in th...

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Latest User Review

Maureen - 25 May 2010:

Who is this idiot and how on earth did he get a job as a reviewer?! You don't have a clue what you are talking about. As an avid theatre goer I must say that this play was one of the grittiest plays I've had the pleasure to watch, the acting is faultless. I saw this in Smethwick and it was amazing, there we’re 15 to 17 year olds there who were enthralled, at the end there wasn’t a dry eye in the house and a standing ovation which was well warranted. Howard Chadwick's portrayal of a father seeking justice the police can't give him is heartbreakingly real, his constant mood changes are a stark reminder of how frail a tragedy like this can make someone and push them to the brink, acting of the highest calibre. Jill Meyers gives the play a lovely tenderness as a grieving mother trying to cope with the loss of her son and the collapse of her marriage, any mum watching will find their hearts going out to her. A play like this could have easily turned into a melodramatic farce, so the brilliant John Elkington gives it a much needed light heartedness and balance playing the bumbling reporter caught between doing the right thing and getting the story he craves. Then when Nicky Bell enters the whole energy of the piece shifts, for the little stage time he has, he finds a way of connecting with the audience, his character in the wrong actors hands could have become a mere scene filler, but his rouge you love to hate is forced into your heart with a powerful and moving portrayal, which only a gifted youngster could have accomplished. Truly a star in the making. All these phenomenal performance couldn’t have happened without a great script from Mark Whiteley. He has set a very high bench mark for his next piece which I cannot wait to go see, if it is half as good as Knife Edge, we are in for a treat. Please don’t believe this misguided fool go and see it for yourself you won’t be disappointed!...

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