The first thing you need to know about FOUL is that isn’t foul. It’s a well crafted and tightly rehearsed piece told by four multi rolling very skilled actors. The premise is a fairly simple one: four housemates who live together for convenience rather than having anything in common navigate living together. Yet simple: when it’s done well, as it is here, is anything but simple.
Presented in the round, these four performers sit at the corners of the room coming in and out for their various interactions. The performance area square is outlined by a strip of coloured light which gradually changes to red by the end, emblematic of the escalating emotions and (mis)communications between them. They flow through the space, past each other, speaking but not connecting almost fluidly, like waves. These added physical theatre piece visuals are a wonderful addition to see so clearly how they occupy the same space but almost miss each other’s lives. They resent the intrusion from each other, not seeing it as connecting, but as interference; while all desperately needing a friend which they could find in each other.
The story is about these four young adults in their first years of having left full time university study. They live in a house owned by Sally’s parents, which instantly sets up the dynamic of the others feeling they shouldn’t upset her, being their landlords’ daughter. Colette is a young professional, Tabitha is a school teacher and Adam teaches yoga amongst other things, and isn’t supposed to be living there: they have converted their living room to include him. Each of these characters has various challenges in their lives that they are trying desperately to hide from each other. The result is petty gripes and annoyances: from resenting someone coming into their room to empty the bin, to nobody owning up to using the dirty plate in the sink and could someone please wash it up? All of these behaviours have been astutely observed and captured, and will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever shared their living space with friends or family.
The gratifying thing to experience is that the actors have created such layered and fully rounded characters that you completely believe them, and recognise aspects of all of them. Marina Stille’s Sally is hiding vulnerability and a deep desire to please her parents with a strong perfectionist drive; Alice Elliott’s Tabitha is hiding a deep feeling of imposter syndrome, whether founded or unfounded, and a desperate desire for a relationship; Jessica Harmer-Smith portrays the fierce career positive Colette with no need of others with an angry fragility that shows that her outward persona is a defence mechanism; and Guerin Frank as Adam is hiding his disappointment at not being able to pursue the path he wants to and fear about his position in the house and in the Country. Each completely different character is played so well by perfectly matched actors: showing their skill in hiding how they feel, as well as what they show. Plus there are some brilliant laugh out loud unexpected humour moment: the date involving the cat tale being one of the standouts.
What’s interesting to see is how all of them just miss each other, making the wrong decisions and reacting badly to something small instead of talking about the big things on their minds. From outside the square we can see with perspective what they cannot, which is entirely the point. It builds and builds into an inevitable crescendo. A fascinating piece: very well scripted, acted and staged with skill and talent.
The Old Net Room – Fishing Museum Loft, 25 May 2024
FOUL runs until 26 May 2024
Photos credit: Til Tomorrow Theatre Company
