By Cem Kaplan
Final Act at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, Islington
I went to watch a play in a small theatre and came out in shock at how brilliant the story and the performances were. Final Act follows Julia Chadwick-Baxter, a late-night radio shock jock and outspoken cynic of the afterlife. A caller challenges her live on air to broadcast from an allegedly haunted theatre during a midnight lock-in. She and her long-suffering producer go there to debunk the claim, but they get caught up in bizarre events that blur the line between the rational and the supernatural.
It was amazing. The acting was very good across the whole cast. The scene where the characters try to connect with the ghost around the table was so convincing that I found myself asking whether it was an act or real.
I also loved the small details. In one scene, two characters are in the room and one of them asks the others to take their shoes off. When the other two characters join later on the stage, the same man asks them to take their shoes off too. I thought this was very well planned. If they skipped past it with the late arrivals, you would only realise afterwards that they should have taken their shoes off as well or even we wouldn’t realise at all.
The writers, Jade Sanchez and Barry J. Wale, brought real feeling to the stage. It also felt like a murder mystery, with every single detail carefully thought out.
The sound and light operation was perfect. It was synced with the play so well that it felt like a film in an editing program, but live.
In the final scene, the two main characters were crying, and all the attention was on them. I watched the other three actors in the background instead. Two men were showing their emotions perfectly and Hannah was crying. It was acting, but I honestly asked myself whether she was acting or really crying. I also saw a few people in the audience crying.
Great story, outstanding performances, and a night I will not forget. Highly recommended. Please note the show carries a 16+ age restriction and a content warning for strong language, references to child loss, suicidal themes and dark humour.
Cast (character followed by actor) Julia Chadwick-Baxter: Senora DMello Hannah Blackwell: Sophie Woolley Grace Fairchild: LilyAnn Green Dr. Robert Marwood: Richard Cawte Danny DeGroot: Oliver Broad
Creative Team Writers: Jade Sanchez and Barry J. Wale Directors: Jessica Tabraham and Clara Seitz Producer: Emma Kerr Assistant Producer: Jonas Feind Stage Manager: Flossy Willis Lighting Designer: Flossy Willis Sound Designer and Technical Operator: Emma Kerr