Stunted Trees and Broken Bridges - Review Winner
We had so many great reviews this year, but there can only be one winner. Many thanks to journalist Susan Elkin who chose this review by Rachel Mander from the King Edward's Camp Hill School for Girls. Susan had this to say about Rachel's review:
"The quality of the writing in this review is outstanding. Rachel provides a commendably concise, but very pertinent, summary of the playâs plot and issues before moving on to a tightly written critique which analyses character and acting with a deft touch. Also included is a fine paragraph expressing misgivings. The success of this review rests partly on the vocabulary of a writer who can use words such as âallegedlyâ and âpalpableâ with such accuracy and poise. " Â
And you can judge for yourself. Here's Rachel's review in full:
âStunted Trees and Broken Bridgesâ is an exceptional production by Y Touring Theatre Company, which I was fortunate enough to be able to watch today.Â
The protagonist is Emerson, a guy of 18, who has recently lost his Mother and has since become prone to volatile outbursts, causing him to be expelled from school. We watch as he battles with a court hearing he must attend because he has allegedly assaulted an enemy of his.Â
His girlfriend, Hayley, and Miles, a dubiously loyal friend, try to grapple with the situation but struggle to understand Emerson amidst feelings of betrayal and hurt. The question of medical ethics arises as Emerson reluctantly decides to undergo a brain scan that will supposedly be able to show differences from ânormal brainsâ and allow him to plead diminished responsibility in court.Â
The conclusion of the drama shows the consequences of Emersonâs sentence of subjection to Deep Brain Stimulation, and the effect it has on others around him.
Throughout, the actors address the issues sensitively and effectively. There is palpable tension and raw emotion allowing the audience to fully empathise with each character. Particularly, the frustration we witness in Emerson as he attempts to reconcile what he knows about himself to what he is being told by Jeanette, the lady scanning his brain. We sympathise in light of his understandable confusion, and question whether the technology is beneficial to his well being. Hayleyâs predicament in standing by a guy she declares to be good is also very poignant because it is very easy to connect with her emotions and just really want to give her a big hug! Not to give the impression, however, that this is a play of doom and gloom- notably the questionable dancing of Miles accompanied by the spraying of oxytocin, raised a lot of laughsâŚ
The ease of movement used by the actors was very convincing- both the conveyed closeness between Hayley and Emerson but also the movement of the more socially insecure Miles. The poise of Jeanette in contrast also added to the authority she had in her role. It was a flawless performance, posture, voice tone and expression were all so evident that I had to remind myself that Emerson didnât really have this technology in his brain at the end! :/
Technically, the set was used very well. Costumes enabled us to get a sense of the character, whilst the staging allowed a diverse range of settings to be created. If I were to criticise this however, the costumes played perhaps too much towards stereotypes (i.e. tracksuit for Emerson, geeky glasses for Miles) where this wasnât necessarily needed. Additionally, the use of music wasnât always helpful, at points detracting from the brilliant acting. More silence would be better, especially at key points where repetitive, and occasionally irritating, music became a distraction.
Nonetheless, Iâm sure that I donât speak out of turn when I say that my year group was captivated. The way the issue was presented was a great source of thought, and everyone was actively engaged in an open discussion about the matters we were faced with. I, certainly, was fascinated with the science behind it although did not agree with the use of the technology outside of medical use (such as for treating Parkinsonâs disease) because of the implication of destroying free will and the high risks associated with this invasive âtreatmentâ.Â
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. It made me think about issues I hadnât encountered before, and both points of view were understandable! As a result, my opinions about the ethics have been shifted and I would definitely be paying attention if the technology came to the justice system in the UK. Should the chance arise, I would ask the playwright about the inspiration behind the characters, particularly Emerson and Miles. Meanwhile, if I had the chance to speak to a neuroscientist I would be bombarding him with questions about the reliability of the technology and whether they believed that there was such thing as a supposed ânormal brainâ. Anyone with the chance to see this, should, because of the impact it can have on your thinking- everyone deserves to question themselves about whether they are fully responsible for their actions! No, seriously, well worth the watch. :)
Rachel Mander, Year 11 student
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