REVIEW: PORT CITY SIGNATURE by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller at The Hope Theatre 26 Sept – 14 Oct 2024

‘oodles of tension in this noirish thriller’ ★★★★

Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller’s latest thriller, set in a remote seaside pub, has oodles of tension right from the start. The show opens with the taciturn Landlord, enjoying a lonely pint, when a stranger enters. She has missed her train and as the long wait begins, the action unfolds, involving a series of discoveries, money worries, a despised ‘sheriff’, a dodgy occupation, and desperate situations. 

The show has so many nods to so many things, including horror with some violence (nasty stuff). Pinter-esque short lines and pauses.  It even has echoes of absurdism as our suspension of disbelief is pushed to the limit bringing to mind such plays as Albert Camus’ CROSS PURPOSE. Above all, it is very noirish. The characters are seedy and certainly lack a moral compass. They are easy to despise which is the only failing of the play. With so little information about each of them, it is hard to sympathise with any of them.

All is not lost, as the acting, and direction keep the drama very buoyant and characterful.  Paddy Echlin is brilliant as Regular, the cunning landlord. He’s the spitting image of ‘Dave’ from our local who used to be a stockbroker (before it all went ‘tits up’). Meg Clarke as the Newcomer is appropriately mysterious and her attention to acting the part of her job, is impeccable.  It might not be believable, that she will tote a gun for money, (maybe if she was in Human resources), but her coolness is vindicated later in the play. Katherine Lea as Lady (presumably ‘lady of the night’) is a fantastic counterpoint to David Carter as the menacing Sheriff.

It certainly doesn’t have the complexity or slow burn of film noir, but it does have style thanks to tight direction by Phoebe Rowell John and Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller. All the elements are present that need to be there, albeit very condensed, saved by the pacing which is nicely judged and never rushed.

PORT CITY SIGNATURE has been chosen as the re-opening play for The Hope Theatre. If this show by Black Bat Productions is the calibre of shows we can expect at the venue, it’s on track to be a favourite with theatre goers.

Photography: Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller

Box Office: https://www.thehopetheatre.com/productions/port-city-signature/

Starring

Meg Clarke - Newcomer

Paddy Echlin - Regular

Katherine Lea - Lady

David Carter - Sheriff

Directed by Phoebe Rowell John and Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller

Designed by Hannah Williams