Duck

Synopsis

Cat's got big feet, so her boyfriend calls her Duck Cat's also got a middle-aged lover who drinks and writes books; a best friend with brains and a Psychotic Mum; a boyfriend with a nightclub, a gun, and some unfinished business... But which of these unravelling threads will she follow? Cat and Sophie are teenagers on the brink, growing up in the face of everything a city can throw at them - in a world where your mum's biggest worry is whether the milk's back in the fridge, your lover refuses to say your name and the girl in the next cubicle has a low voice and surprisingly hairy hands... But girls just wanna have fun. You can't learn to be good when your olders are no longer your betters. Somehow, the girls must cope - or find a way of escaping.

Our Review:

27 November 2003

NOTE: The following review dates from September 2003 and an earlier tour stop for this production.

Max Stafford-Clark's company, Out of Joint, assaults the senses with Duck, an accomplished first play from Stella Feehily. The production features nudity, swearing and gritty performances. Luckily, this brave venture wins the audience round completely and is proof that there's room for a variety of productions at regional theatres.

Cat (Ruth Negga) is an enigmatic young girl who attracts trouble despite herself. Her boyfriend Mark (Karl Shiels) treats her like a doormat. Her middle-aged lover (Tony Rohr) has a girlfriend on the side. And her best friend Sophie (Elaine Symons) longs for her to give up her job as a night club hostess and make a fresh start.

Cat is young and needs to learn from her mistakes, but at what cost? When your boyfriend carries a gun and makes you tremble when he touches you, what hope is there?

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.207.144.85) - 15 December 2003:

This production comes with so many credentials but is neither acted well nor directed with any insight or originality. The script is nothing more than a "see how much we can shock you" potboiler without the drama or conflict. The acting is hardly anything but amateur, sometimes technically embarassing. The set is nothing short of boring and unimaginative. This was the worst show I've seen at the Royal Court in some years. The standards have dipped too low. Terrible. The only thing shocking about this show is that the reviewers have recommended it. I won't trust their opinions on how to spend my money again. Simply awful. KG...

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