Just as the name suggests, the play traces back seven years of betrayal and deception, in an intriguing series of events. Somewhat unusually, the play’s events are unfolded in reverse chronological order, starting in 1977, with protagonists Emma (Kitty Sharp) and Jerry (Matt Miers-Jones) meeting for a drink, two years after the ending of their seven-year affair. Each scene then unravels the story of their betrayal, until eventually arriving at the evening where it all began. Having watched NUTS’ Dramafest at the end of last year, I was already aware of the talent of the actors and actresses involved with the society, however their performance on the night was truly captivating. Director, Imogen Snook, did a magnificent job of capturing the innovative work of Pinter, bringing it to life, and leaving the audience engrossed throughout.
Many of the play’s scenes involved convoluted desire and implied dialogue, with the characters leaving a lot unsaid between them. However, this was no problem for Kitty Sharp, who was able to communicate the turbulent, intricate entanglement of emotion her character experiences throughout the play, via expression and body language, which I found to be especially gripping. Miers-Jones’ performance showed great skill, as he was onstage for all scenes, bar one. Despite this perpetual stage presence, Miers-Jones kept me, and the rest of the audience, absorbed with the motivations of his character (Jerry), and the ways in which Jerry deals with both his own betrayal, and the ones going on around him. I also found that Myers-Jones’ scenes with Alwin Jose, who played Robert, were potent, as their dynamic was undeniable. Both effectively conveyed the awkwardness of their situation, and the unspoken deceit of betrayal amid them. Part of this dynamic was also down to Jose, who often acted as comedic relief within otherwise intense scenes of heightened emotion between the two characters, making the audience audibly laugh throughout the performance.
The play’s production, managed by Will Hall and Carly Horne, was also commendable, as although the set design was rather uncomplicated, with mainly a table, chairs, and some form of alcohol, it worked to keep the audience's attention captivated upon the dialogue in the play. Furthermore, I found the recurrent symbolism of alcohol to expertly capture the play’s themes – by framing alcohol as an agent of the truth, and to be central in the acts of betrayal committed by the characters. The sound used throughout was also effective, with the start of each scene being portrayed through the noise of a film reel, which added to the nature of the play’s nostalgia and reverse chronology.
Each cast and crew member produced a performance to be proud of, and I can only implore you to watch a NUTS show before you leave University!