Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Reviewed by: Katie Borland
00:45:00 is a Fringe debut, written and directed by six-time published playwright Katie Gaven. The premise of this piece is a scientific experiment in which ‘five people walk into a room, and only one will make it out alive’. The experiment unfolds within 45 minutes before the audience, who become spectators after signing an NDA, with the countdown in the corner of the stage inducing tension with every passing second.
The actors in this production are all very talented. The characters are distinct from one another within moments of stepping on stage, and they all bring a high level of confidence and a strong stage presence. They manage to maintain naturalistic acting throughout instead of leaning towards traditional expressive theatre acting, which works extremely well, embeds the audience in the ‘reality’ of the situation and serves to heighten the stakes of the experiment. Most notably, Mary Kathryn Brown delivers an incredibly strong performance as Dr Wilson and is able to professionally respond to the audience when required, creating an immersive experience.
The dialogue is written in a realistic manner, with characters talking over one another at times as the stress of the situation increases. Occasionally, I did find myself wanting a little more from the characters, but the way the plot develops, along with the characters’ actions, is still well thought out and executed. Gaven’s message is clearly conveyed and poignant, and she manages to conjure a strong connection between the audience, characters and situation.
Overall, this was a very entertaining yet moving production with a strong message, which is particularly impressive considering this is produced by Fringe newcomers. If you enjoy thrillers and want to support a talented young playwright and acting troupe, I recommend you choose this one. You can find it at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall every day until 28 August, but move quickly as tickets are already selling out!
