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The New Wolsey Studio
1st-3rd June 2006
This disturbing, yet comic, play by Joe Penhall leaves you doubting medical authority, asking questions and certainly wanting more.
The story unfolds in a psychiatric ward in London, where black patient Cristopher (Joel Trill)has been sectioned for 28 days after an incident, that he audience are left guessing at. Also, he claims that his father is the exiled Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin and that oranges are blue.
Christopher's young psychiatrist Bruce (Steven Cree) and senior consultant Robert (Stuart Organ) hold different opinions as to what would be best for Christopher’s future. As the play progresses the two experts continue to argue and their relationship slowly disintegrates.
Blue/Orange is a gripping, provocative play that explores the politics of a London hospital, at a time when the failures of the NHS are worryingly relevant.Prejudice and preconceptions are also tackled, along with hierarchy and careerism.
I thought that the interactions and relationships between the three, very different, characters were portrayed excellently. The issues explored within this play are extremely serious, so the occasional injection of light relief - more often than not from Christopher - were much appreciated by the audience. I hardly noticed that the play was over 2 hours long and could have happily watched all day! Blue/Orange is a very emotive play, that left me inspired, if slightly overwhelmed. Overall, quite simply, I think this play is fantastic!
Kirsty Farthing
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