Theatre N16 6 – 17 March. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
Richard Cameron’s “Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down” is story telling at its purest, allowing his words and the actors to shine.
Three women from South Yorkshire describe the day that Al died, and their subsequent encounters with Royce Boland, the man who drove Al to his death. Almost the entire story is told through monologues, with the actors barely interacting but describing events from their point of view for the audience to piece together the whole picture. This creates a deeper connection with the audience, as it is almost like a confessional session.
Abi Taylor Jones’ Ruby begins as a feisty pregnant teenager, believing that she deserves everything bad that happens to her, and Taylor Jones shows Ruby’s journey as she realises that she is strong enough to survive on her own with great humour and earthiness.
Venice van Someren plays 10 year old Jodie at the beginning of the play, mixing innocent playfulness with almost ethereal moments. As teenage Jodie, van Someren still shows the child within but portrays Jodie’s growing self-awareness and self-belief expertly.
Ellie Nunn as Lynnette is astonishing in the scenes where she is the victim of Royce’s abuse – making the audience flinch along with her. Those scenes are written brilliantly, and Nunn’s brave delivery of her justification for staying is heartbreakingly real.
The characters are drawn to the river as a symbol of continuity, life carrying on and things passing, and the interweaving of the monologues creates the rhythm of tributaries joining a larger flow and being swept along in a strong current towards a final confrontation. The language swerves wildly between blunt plainspoken honesty and lyrical emotive poetry, producing a tale that grips from start to finish.
“Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down” is one of those rare plays that are strangely devastating and life-affirming at the same time. This wonderful play will haunt you.