The Ones That Flutter

Synopsis

The Ones That Flutter is the life story of Roddy; a good man, and a death row warden. Two men, both alone in the world, strike up a conversation; it is the start of an extraordinary friendship between a warden and a prisoner serving his last few hours. As morning approaches and time is running out for Hunter, he appeals to Roddy to stop his execution. Will Roddy stand against his life’s work? In saving Hunter, could he save himself? Inspired by a true story, The Ones That Flutter is based at ‘The Walls’ (Huntsville Unit), Texas.

Our Review:

21 September 2009

Battersea's Theatre503 bills itself as "the home of fearless, irreverent, brave and provocative new plays", and Sylvia Reed's The Ones That Flutter certainly lives up to that promise.

Telling the story of the friendship between an ageing prison warden in Texas and the prisoner whose execution he has to order, the play unravels the history of a complex and abusive family relationship, setting the deaths in the family against the state-determined death of Sam Hunter (Richie Campbell).

The play opens with the warden, Roddy (Michael Feast), being visited by a representative of a property developer who wants to knock down the family home and build a modern gated community. The meeting makes Roddy think back to his younger self (beautifully played by Oliver Coopersmith) who stands up to the violent alcoholic father who broke his older brother Ray's arm.

Ray had refused to retrieve the injured doves his father shot - the 'ones that flutter'. Instea...

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Latest User Review

Mr Hewitt - 9 October 2009:

AMAZING! Great performances and a wonderful design. Highly recommended and worth the shlep to 503....

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