Imagine, if you will, a lazy Sunday afternoon in Buxton, spent at the kitchen table, writing and editing and fact-checking, with half-drunk coffee cups sitting, leaching heat next to the crumb-laden empty plate which had earlier proffered gingernuts and chocolate-covered oat biscuits. Sunday tea is planned, prepped and just awaiting the final flourish of its pastry casing.
It is five pm. There is nothing to rush us, no deadlines or places to be, but then, breaking the silence, someone (me) utters, “Do you fancy a trip to the theatre? Tonight. I think Joe’s new play is on. That Widow’s Leap one… In Burnley. I think it’s the premiere…… pretty sure we can get there for half seven!” And that was that – we had an evening out.
Washed, dressed and ready, tickets bought online, and into the car. Tea? Forgotten; it’ll do for Monday night, there’ll be a KFC somewhere!. Thirty-eight miles of driving and a lot of roadworks later, we were parked at the ‘free on Sunday’ car park behind the Mechanic’s Theatre and in the bar for a cold drink.
Joe O’Byrne’s usual minimalist set is supplemented this time by a series of scene-setting projected backdrops. These mostly work well and give an edge to the overall story, helping the viewer to understand the changes of scene. There were a lot of scene changes. There is a lot of backstory to explain. Probably, and I hesitate to mention this, the idea of a bunch of stories that all relate in some way to a select group of characters in a small geographic area, does present its own logistical nightmares, and I am sure many a great author, playwright and soap-opera producer have pulled their collective hair out at how to incorporate prior knowledge and ‘need to know’ facts without appearing to do so…..
Joe’s plays all have a definite two-halves feel; the first half laying the storyline and introducing the players, often concealing their true nature, whilst the second half gives you the full force of what is happening, what has happened, and ultimately – ‘Who done it!‘ Beware, for it is rarely the butler!
“The Haunting of Widow’s Leap” is steeped in cultural mischief, mixed with folklore, human crime and wrapped in a stinking layer of raw, unthinking emotion. Its protagonists guard their dark secrets like Gollum does his ‘precious ‘ and woe betide anyone who finds out what is hidden.
The story is of the police designated suicide of Leanne Tully, which is being unofficially reinvestigated by Mackey, a washed-up, defrocked and de-pensioned ex-cop, urged on by the deceased’s mother Pearl a medium, and hindered by a host of characters with various nefarious acts locked away in their individual ‘secrets cupboard’. Many of the characters are from previous “Tales from Paradise Heights”, and though you do not need to have seen those first, I find myself increasingly glad that I have seen them. This story has murder, ghosts, deception and even ‘Love’ in it, with all these themes being fully scrutinised along the way. A backstory which includes witch trials, urban crime and social climbing mingles these with other, darker themes to give a truly daunting look at life in a remote, sea-battered town, sometime in the last two decades.
Joe’s usual cast of actors played multiple parts again with Joe himself taking two parts of varying menace, including a reappearance of the terrifying Frank Morgan; Peter Slater giving us a short lesson in violent extremes as Ray, the excellent Donna Henry as Pearl and Maggie, Joanna Fox and Abbie Richardson bringing us a couple of smaller yet important characters as Sadie and Leanne herself. Special praise goes to David Edward-Robertson as a tired and mocking Mackey, and Jack Vardy who was terrific as Father Mally.
This performance was not perfect, but, as a premiere is the first public showing, it is usually the first time for its writer to gauge a paying audience’s reactions and gain some feedback for their long-incubated artistic idea, and this premiere will no doubt do that for Joe, allowing the subtle rewrites and alterations that live theatre alone offers its creators. Joe will know what he needs to do, it won’t be much – a tweek here etc, but this reviewer can safely say that, in his humble opinion, this play, “Widow’s Leap” is set to become a fantastic addition to the Canon of Paradise Heights.
Can I add – please be aware that this series of plays is 18+ adults only. there are very dark themes and language throughout.
For further information, including dates of showings around the country, visit www.talesfromparadiseheights.com or look for Joe O’Byrne on social media.
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