The House Party at HOME theatre explores themes of class, power, and privilege with raw intensity.
Written by Laura Lomas, The House Party is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation directed by Headlong’s artistic director Holly Race Roughan with movement direction by Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham.
Roughan makes a bold call, having a digital clock counting down the time above the set – and yet the audience is transfixed on every minute of the action.
She also shows-not-tells by blacking out the lights for the most violent and intimate scenes.
Sesley Hope (Bridgerton), who plays the role of Christine; Synnøve Karlsen (Clique, The Midwich Cuckoos, Miss Austen), who plays Julie; and Tom Lewis (Patience, Gentleman Jack), who plays Jon, all produce strong performances.
The ensemble of Frantic Assembly performers includes Ines Aresti, Oliver Baines, Cal Connor, Micah Corbin-Powell, Rachael Leonce, Jaheem Pinder and Jamie Randall.
Julie hosts a house party on her 18th birthday, having – we discover – been dumped by her boyfriend early in the day.
She and her best friend Christine have been discussing visiting Thailand.
But Christine has not told her she has an interview at Cambridge in the morning – and the possibility of a different future.
Christine’s boyfriend Jon is the son of Julie’s cleaner and from a different background.
Lewis’ portrayal of Jon is believable, apart from a weak attempt at a cry, but its inclusion in the script was unnecessary.
Jon and Julie are flawed characters, but the audience feels sympathy for Christine, who will ultimately be betrayed by both.
Julie has had difficult moments in her life, but she fails to recognise that everyone else has too – no more so than her friend and the only person who truly loves her: Christine.
A love triangle, destructively concocted by Julie, forms between her, Christine and Jon, and everyone is caught in the crossfire.
The music is well-chosen and the stage and lighting enhance the production at the modern venue, HOME Manchester.
The dialogue between Julie and Christine is amusing at the start before the mood grows heavy.
The language is, at times, shocking – but it is designed to be exactly that.
It is what is promised: a reimagining for today’s generation.
Tickets are from £20 and it is £11 per ticket for college, university or education groups.
And tickets are still available for the 7:30 pm showings today, tomorrow and Saturday and for the matinee at 2 pm on Saturday.
★★★★☆
Feature Image: Sesley Hope and Synnøve Karlsen by Ikin Yum.
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