Enda Walsh explores the dangers of online chatrooms to modern teenagers. They start by damning Willy Wonka as a paedophile and declaring that the Gloops would prevail, as all Germans do. JK Rowling comes in for similar criticism. My only thought is that I wish I knew such eloquent, erudite teenagers. There are times when author's voice is more obvious than the characters, particularly in the film sequence.
Raw Alchemy have presented an excellent production, from staging to performances. Each character is alone online, delineated in a blue light circle when live. Sound bursts add to the armosphere as they don and shed their hoodies to signify whether they are available to us. We readily accept that characters are talking online although the move around and interact onstage. We don't have the usual older perverts grooming youth, but youngsters feeding on their own.
Each character is well drawn and the actors convince as they form and break trust and friendships. Each is dealing with problems of maturing in the present, but our focus is on Jim who has been bullied from primary school. He presents a complex study of the forgotten youth seeking support on the net. Laura tries to stay uninvolved till William leads Jim's persecution – then things turn around. Both Jim and Laura produced tears at different times, which is impressive for any actor.
Good work all round!
Derek Benfield