Let’s face it, all of us face the reality of getting older and leaving this earth when it’s our time. What if we knew the end was near and we had to tie up loose ends? Would we make the most of the time we had left? Or leave things as they are? These questions and more are explored in a new black comedy, The Dance of Time, the latest instalment from writer Tim Coakley. When married couple Tom and Mary reunite in the garden of the Hospice Tom is staying in, many things have to be re-visited and re-discovered to lay things to rest before it’s too late. Through the memories they have of their time together, the fragility of human connection is explored.
The Dance of TimeCoakley tends to focus mostly writing-wise on comedies, so to see him explore a more dramatic style of writing was a wise move on his part. It showed that he could look at more sensitive issues, whilst exploring a more gentle type of comedy to balance out the drama. The only thing to note is that whilst the concept was a strong one, some of the memory sketches that involved some nods to comedy roleplay and others that were reminiscent of Morecambe and Wise, were too long. This meant that occasionally, the more dramatic moments had less impact and could have been moved earlier in the plot to move the action along. A suggestion to prevent this would be to shorten some of the sketches and create further dramatic and likewise comedic impact.
Apart from that, it was a powerful two-hander piece that showcased the talents of Julian Howard McDonald and Sam Nixon in terms of their acting prowess and their clear, natural chemistry as we found out more about Tom and Mary’s relationship. The way they explored the sensitive nature of life and death itself in Coakley’s text was extremely strong and approached the subjects with a mindful, respectful nature that showed in their warm and equally vibrant vocal tones. As each layer was revealed, McDonald and Nixon threw themselves into the challenge ahead of them and succeeded by creating one of the most powerful couple connections seen on stage this fringe so far.
McDonald portrayed Tom as someone who, at times, was grumpy, but as the story developed, it was clear to see that a lot of it was a mask about the prospect of dying. In his flashbacks, McDonald became rather playful and ‘devilish’ in character, which then added another layer of a personality which only certain people got to see (especially Mary). When Tom had certain ‘moments’ where time stood still, McDonald made a powerful move to keep those moments subtle as opposed to his larger personality on show, which showcased his usage of stillness extremely well and made Tom someone you could, in many ways, relate to.
In contrast, Nixon played the long-suffering wife, Mary, who had a more positive attitude in life and balanced out McDonald well in terms of vibrancy and a simple joy she expressed as she reminded him of what life could be like. She grounded McDonald’s more heightened moments in a gentle, persuasive way that gave her a role that, in many respects, became a nod to Julie Andrews’ characters that involved wisdom, gentle play, and a grace that completed the relationship on show. Nixon also explored a darker side to her in the sense of a secret that had been looming over the couple for years in a way that was extremely well handled, given the sensitive nature of the context. To find out what that secret is, catch them in Eastbourne soon!
Finally, a special mention has to go to director Petina Hapgood for a detailed, sensitive portrayal of Coakley’s writing. Having seen Hapgood’s work over the years, from the way Nixon and McDonald portrayed Tom and Mary, it was clear that Hapgood had encouraged them to pull upon their own life experiences and solidify the complex relationship portrayed. But it went beyond a simple marriage. It was a marriage between life and death, and how we can make the most of the time we have left.
The Dance of Time is a powerful exploration of how we can make memories, dance through life, and make the most of the time we have left. One to watch for as they head to Eastbourne, and I hope this play goes beyond the fringe on many levels.
Reviewed by Sascha Cooper
Producer and Writer – Tim Coakley
Director – Petina Hapgood
Tom – Julian Howard Mcdonald
Mary – Sam Nixon
In this black comedy there are shouts of joy, cries of despair and a roller coaster of emotions as Tom and Mary struggle to come to terms with an uncertain future, with their complicated relationship, and with the meaning of life. Whatever that is of course. In hilarious exchanges, they launch into a thought-provoking dialogue about some of the broader questions of life and death while at the same time managing to keep us all amused. Throw in a little music, some shenanigans, a love story, bravery in the face of impending tragedy, some wry comments on modern society, a little dancing, some rather surprising moments, and you have a play that not only has messages about life that you did not know you needed – but is also a play that is also guaranteed to make you laugh. Only a few performances at the Fringe before going on tour. With two top class actors, this play, written by Tim Coakley and staged by renowned director Petina Hapgood, is a play you simply have to see.