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| Cast | |
| Marjorie | Kellie Risby |
| Raul | Richard Self |
| Terry | Claire Lewis-McClean |
| Patricia | Charlotte Bacon |
| Crew | |
| Stage Manager | Annette Tranter |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Tony Donnelly |
| Set Design | Roz Betts |
| Set Construction | John Vinnels, Ron Andrews, Peter Smith |
| Set Painting | Steve Grubb |
| Properties | Sarah Hills |
| Lighting Design | Jerry McKeon |
| Lighting Rig | Jerry McKeon, Christine McKeon |
| Lighting Operation | Ian Saxton |
| Sound | Ben Laing |
Preview
Taking crime to the extreme
William Mastrosimone's 1978 play Extremities was written after extensive research in court, talking to spectactors, lawyers, defendants and plaintiffs in rape cases. The play focuses on all aspects of the crime, not just the physical act, but the psychology behind it, and the emotions that accompany it.
It tells the story of a young woman called Marjorie who is attacked in her home by a would-be rapist, Raul. In this story, she manages to turn the tables on him, tying him up in her fireplace. Marjorie's two roommates, Terry and Patricia, return home to find the man tied up with cords, belts and other things. An argument between the three women ensues as they try to work out what to do, but their actions are thrown off course as Raul discloses that he knows some unsettling things about their own lives.
The production of the play is directed by Roz Betts and features Kellie Risby as Marjorie, Richard Self as Raul and Claire Lewis-McClean and Charlotte Bacon as Terry and Patricia. It contains scenes of a violent nature and strong language and is not suitable for under 16s. Extremities is at the Edward Alderton Theatre, Bexleyheath, from January 27 to February 3 at 8pm (apart from Sunday 28).
Bexley Times | 11 January 2007
Review
Mind games when victim turns tables on attacker
With a warning about strong language and violence, William Mastrosimone's Extremities, staged last week at Bexleyheath's Edward Alderton Theatre, was definitely not for the faint-hearted. The play tackled the emotive issues of rape and revenge, centring on a horrific sexual attack by labourer Raul (Richard Self) on a single woman, Marjorie (Kellie Risby). After a prolonged assault - which made for very uncomfortable viewing - Marjorie manages to overpower Raul just before he actually rapes her. She then ties him up and traps him in her large fireplace like a caged animal. Marjorie's first thought is to kill him and dispose of the body, but when her housemates Patricia (Charlotte Bacon) and Terry (Claire Lewis-McClean) arrive home, they persuade her to relent. But Raul has been keeping a watchful eye on their isolated home and has some secrets about Marjorie that even her friends don't know about.
Roz Betts directed this potentially controversial play, as well as designing the incredibly detailed set. The opening scene was compellingly brutal with a real sense of menace in Richard Self's performance. Unfortunately this was immediately followed by a very long blackout as Raul is bound with ropes and duct-tape by Marjorie - a key scene that really needed to be shown in full view. The pace picked up again, but once the tables were turned, the playwright's agenda seemed unclear. Raul was too unpleasant to be a figure of sympathy, while Marjorie's relish at inflicting pain prevented the audience fully empathizing with her.
The performances, however, were exemplary. Richard Self, despite a somewhat impenetrable Puerto Rican accent, was a larger-than-life presence throughout. He fully inhabited this complex character, displaying nastiness and servility in equal measure. Kellie Risby, last seen at the Alderton giving a stunning performance in 2004's The Crucible, was again splendid as the desperate woman out for revenge at all costs. Both Claire Lewis-McClean and Charlotte Bacon were very strong in roles that sometimes seemed superfluous to the Silence of the Lambs-style mind games of the two leads.
Mark Campbell
Kentish Times | 8 February 2007
