Rory Platt’s new play tells the thought provoking, humorous and at times quite unsettling story of four friends trying to navigate their way through a school reunion. Ten years after departing the rock pool of sixth form, they find themselves to have either been robbed of their nascent teenage idealism in a world which has disappointed, or embraced by a world which does not appear to care for such.
‘The Rain Starts A-Fallin’’ maintains a high-tempo, effortlessly fluid dialogue throughout, Platt daring the audience to confront the possibility of their living linear lifestyles and consider what it really means to ‘progress’ in life.
There are some brilliant individual performances; Thomas Olver is particularly strong as the devastatingly intelligent yet socially inept ‘Quinn’. Olver’s carefully nuanced mannerisms contrast superbly with his ability to shift quickly between extremes, lending an extra spark to what would regardless have been an extremely engaging and immersive performance.
It took me a while to become fully involved in the piece, this not necessarily aided by some abrupt halts in the music between scenes, whereas a careful fade-out would have better carried the lingering atmosphere from the previous to the next; beyond this, however, there is scarcely fault to be found. As his first play to make it to the stage, Rory Platt’s ‘The Rain Starts A-Fallin’ is multi-layered and magnetic; guaranteed, you’ll leave the BT satisfied, thoughtful and content.
FOUR STARS
