Shiver
is billed as a compelling and disturbing new drama about love. I found
it intriguing and disturbing in that I couldn’t figure out whether the
action was real or in Christina's head, whether the loop backs were
relived memories or wishful thinking.
Basically Christina (Kay Bridgeman) returns
home after a trip away as an airhostess, hears a knock and answers the
door to find Jacob (Grae Cleugh). Jacob is an old boyfriend whom she
thought had been killed in an accident eighteen years earlier. We slowly
through, the same scene repeating over and over discover something about
the relationship between the two characters. The set is simple but
designed in such a way that each return to the start is marked by
lighting and sound effects.
Cleverly
written by Oliver Emanuel and directed by Daniel Bye this is a powerful
yet frustrating piece of theatre. Kay and Grae are totally convincing as the two protagonists.
Think
of a horror version of 'Groundhog Day' with no happy ending.
***
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