Fans of actress Eve Myles, perhaps best-known for playing Gwen
in TV's Torchwood, may be interested to know that she's currently
starring with Scrubs actor Zach Braff in his new play All New
People. It's Braff's UK stage acting debut and the play has, we're
told, broken box office records in Manchester at the Opera House,
becoming their highest grossing drama of all time. It's now showing
until April 28 at London's Duke of York's theatre.
Written by Braff and directed by award-winning Peter DuBois, the
play is set in a luxurious Long Beach Island apartment, and opens
with Charlie (Braff) poised to take his own life. His unhappy plans
are interrupted by the appearance of a "hired beauty" (Susannah
Fielding), a scruffy fireman ( a great performance by Paul Hilton),
and a flustered British real estate agent (Myles) who is
desperately trying to stay in the US for reasons that are later
revealed.
With a suicide attempt at its origin, the play may be dark in
many respects (and cold, as it is set during a snow storm) but it
is also fast-paced and enjoyable, with plenty of funny moments amid
the bickering and soul-searching. An interesting technique
involving huge screens which show the audience snippets of each
character's backstory works fairly well, although whether all of
these backstories are entirely plausible is another matter.
Ultimately it is a play about guilt and redemption, and about the
power of friendship or, failing that, the very basic comfort to be
found in human companionship. A good night out.
All New People
Duke of York's Theatre
Limited 10 week season
Mon - Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm
TICKETS - £15 - £49.50
Premium seats £66.50
0844 871 7627 (bkg fee)
allnewpeople.co.uk
