This is how You Me and Her is described online: “Obsession, envy and desire… These all have one common denominator – love. What lengths would you go to for that one person?”
Meet April. She seems very nice – if a trifle infatuated with the guy she keeps meeting in the coffee shop. She feels certain that they’re destined to be together. Why, they even order the same type of coffee! Now meet Imogen. She’s also very nice. She’s been with her man for the last three years and they are devoted to each other; she thinks. Although he’s not certain he wants to move to Burgundy, and she doesn’t care for Rom-Coms. April loves Rom-Coms though, and she’s quite prepared to be a temptress to get her way. And who knows what Imogen is capable of to prevent her?
Very well written and constructed, this nicely sets up an atmosphere of suspicion and infidelity, but also conceals from the audience certain elements of the story so that we too are left dangling. Did he and April sleep together? Did Imogen end up committing an unimaginable crime? In the end I was both impressed and infuriated that one final scene that would have tied up all the loose ends deliberately didn’t appear!
The production boasts three good performances from its main characters; Ruby Watkinson plays April with quiet determination and demure aloofness, Caitlin Such is excellent as the spoiled and suspicious Imogen who lets things get out of hand, and Brandon Mayfield is also excellent as the object of their desires, giving in to temptation just a little bit, knowing right from wrong – but only when it suits him. No programme means I can’t remember the name of Mr Mayfield’s character – but there’s only one lead male role. The cast of three were nicely supported by second year students Richard and Kitty in a variety of roles – I look forward to seeing them do more next year.
If I have a criticism of the performance it would be that for such high emotional tension between the characters it might have been appropriate for their to be more physical contact between them; for a life and death situation, Imogen and her man barely touch, which gave the production a slightly more mental than physical feel. But that didn’t prevent the power of the story coming through, and it’s a gripping story concisely and clearly told. Great work!