Blindsided (Manchester)
Simon Stephens' Blindsided has received some welcome publicity due to the casting of former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh – who won a National Television Award during the rehearsal period for her excellent work as Hayley Cropper. Although she delivers an assured performance here, her two roles lack the depth that the actress is used to. In fact, her first role as Susan Heyer – a cruel mother – is barely there and would not feel fully rounded even if Meryl Streep played her.
We're in Stockport and Cathy Meyer (Katie West) is an engaging and witty young lady. Her life is messy and she strives to use her A Level in History for good. She's a single mother and her boyfriend John Connolly (Andrew Sheridan) has more than a wandering eye.
Watching Cathy and John's first meeting is one of the best scenes in the play. It is awkward and slightly dangerous, as we see how much Cathy wants to fall in love and settle down. We also see how John takes full advantage of this. Both characters are complicit, but Cathy's naivety and the fact that she longs to find the good in people makes her more vulnerable.
West is revelatory as this complex character. She moves around the stage in a skittish fashion and you are never quite sure where she is going to land. Even when the character does something morally wrong in Act One, you still feel total empathy for her. This is due to Stephens' writing at times. But for the most part it is down to this skin deep performance.
When Cathy realises that John is having an affair and she plays his mistress, Siobhan (Rebecca Callard), it is mesmerising and edgy. There is always a hint of danger in each scene and this keeps you watching. Unfortunately, though, many of the scenes are over-long and not all of the characters are developed well enough to give them a pulse. Callard is as excellent as ever, but her Siobhan is simply a plot device more than a fully fledged character. Likewise, Jack Deam's Isaac Berg is simply there to move the narrative along. A shame, as these talented actors deserve far more.
This is Sheridan and West's play. They are both unpredictable performers and revel in the fact that their characters are usually seen supporting a protagonist. They are both underdogs, yet here they rule the roost to such an extent that they make the script crackle whenever they utter a line. Hesmondhalgh comes into her own in Act Two when she plays the older Cathy. But during the first act, an awful wig and terrible stage direction mean she simply marches on and off spouting quite unrealistic dialogue and she never feels like Cathy's mother.
Sarah Frankcom's less is more approach to directing usually works a treat. Her Beautiful Thing will always be one of Manchester's theatrical highlights. But here, the pace is just too slow and restrictive. It puts some of the performers in a strait jacket.
This is a small play with big ideas and the awkward set design – vast, blocky and empty – doesn't help. It's like an obstacle course. A studio space could see more energy on stage, as when a scene or piece of dialogue does catch fire, you see the potential here.
Swipes at Thatcher and Blair are placed in the mouths of characters, but just like the dawning of a new era when someone new comes into power, Blindsided promises far more than it delivers.
Blindsided is at the Royal Exchange Theatre until 15 February.
