Bad Blood

USER (15Feb03): Although slow to start, it is not until scene two/act one that the play starts to spring to life, before taking off at breakneck pace in the second half. Gary Mavers was the lynch pin of the plot as Tom, as the main protagonists weaved their tale of lies, and double dealing. Gillian Taylforth's contribution as Vic was short but sweet, while Julie Buckfield's main highlight was her character Belinda's seduction by Gary, adding incest to the plot in act two. As for Danny Nutt & Doug Rollis, their part in the grand scheme of things did get somewhat confused at times, with each character having their own motives for their action A slightly messy ending, with more questions being raised than answered, it was none the less an enjoyable evening. However the play might have been more suitably made into a TV series, rather than a play, allowing more elaboration in the plot-such as Tom (Mavers) getting to know his long lost daughter, while Smokey's (Nutt), seduction of Vic(Taylforth) was also missed out for the most part, with only the aftermath seen at the start of scene two/act one. Althought the plot, and motive was soon revealed, it was not until the dramatic ending all was finally revealed, there for it deserves 4 out of 5 for that