The October Revolutions, by Brian Mitchell, The Ornate Johnsons, Pulse Fringe Festival, Ipswich, June 3

David Green

The October Revolutions, by Brian Mitchell, The Ornate Johnsons, Pulse Fringe Festival, Ipswich, June 3

Philip, a writer, and Kath, a young art student, hover frustratingly in an awkward region somewhere between affection and love.

Over the course of three meetings in successive Octobers they try to find a way forward for their relationship - hindered by doubts, personal ambitions and an age gap of ten years.

This splendid production was an unqualified success on a number of fronts.

The script itself is excellent - keeping the audience engaged and guessing from start to finish. The play was beautifully directed with a minimum of stage furniture and some brave positioning.

Laura Corbett as the diffident, vivacious Kath and Lloyd Thomas as the angst-ridden Philip both produced outstanding performances, the moods of the characters swinging from tension, anxiety and frustration through to sheer joy and back again.

These were very honest performances, both comic and touchingly sad.

The last of the three acts was set, amusingly, in the Blue Peter garden at BBC Broadcasting House where, despite attaining his ambition as a script-writer, Peter is still as disillusioned as ever.

This was drama of the highest quality - delivered with energy, pace and good timing. A real triumph for the Pulse.

David Green