A radio play by Dennis Kelly
The Afternoon Play BBC Radio 4
Here is an example of a rather obvious, simple conception. It's the sort of thing that seems obvious after it is heard. One can imagine writers of radio plays around the world striking themselves on the forehead, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Dennis Kelly is the one who thought of it and produced a brilliant script.
Oh, yes, the concept. The play is made up of exactly what the title says it is. The story is told through the course of 12 Shares at an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. The form of an AA meeting hardly ever varies. It involves someone speaking first, telling their story, and followed by an open time where others in attendance speak about what they are going through. This is the brilliance of the concept of the play. It is a story told completely naturally in the course of a series of AA meetings. Dennis Kelly does not need to resort to the sometimes awkward template of narration to illuminate the radio play. The shares tell the story.
In the play we hear Kate thank the unheard speaker by name and then set into the latest events in her own story. It is a moving story of personal and family struggle with substance abuse. For the most part she speaks openly of her hopes, fears, and emotional insecurities. Most of the issues involve relationship with others, the interface with the outside world.
The believability of the play is enhanced by Sophie Stanton's measured, emotionally full, yet nuanced performance as Kate. She hits just the right pitch in a role that all to easily could have veered toward the melodramatic.
The play is directed by Pam Marshall. One gets the feel of the room in what is basically a one woman show.
A special note on the music by Nina Perry. In the theme she loops and digitally distorts the voice of Kate along with a gentle yet insistent beat, and a couple of simple melody lines. These sounds serves to place us in the emotional atmosphere of the play, actually help to create it. It would be lovely if more of the BBC radio plays employed Nina Perry's work. Too often BBC plays resort to clips of old pop tunes to evoke time and setting. The 12 Shares Theme as well as clips of more of Perry's beautiful work can be found here: Nina Perry
12 Shares is available to listen again through Thursday, April 26, 2007: The Afternoon Play. Click on the Friday button.
