Waking Exploits  give a “wake up call “…

The play deals with the way in which some people feel they need to please those they love. If along the way they can pick up power, social status and “things” all the better.

 In the opening scene, the set digitally marks the passing of the days whilst

 e-mails float between David (Will Thorp) and Sandrine, his recently acquired French lover. David very successfully conveys  the  “oo la la” appeal of this lady. She exhorts him to stop ‘talking business’ but to talk of his feelings and about his dead wife. However this proves to be the downfall of the relationship when he admits to having aided Jess (his wife’s) suicide by forcing vodka down her throat, this on top of the overdose of tablets which she had already swallowed. Surely even her having got them into 70 grand of debt through her shopping addiction  could never excuse such action  ? He hears no more from the lovely Sandrine.

Going back in time, we next meet Jess’s grieving parents, perfectly casted Rebecca Harries and Keiron Self. They discuss their former wealth. Perhaps this upbringing had fuelled Jess’s expectation to be constantly lavished with material items ?  Dad also has a confession. He has smashed to bits a gaudy monstrosity of a headstone. The vile headstone totally overshadowed their daughter’s grave. It had been erected by a Greek widower.  They saw no end to the awful additions he continued to bestow. At this point laughter from the audience was somewhat stifled but the comedy in this was evident.

David is shown at a brilliantly scripted job interview .Joanna Simpkins is wonderful   playing his former girlfriend Val, from university days .Val has risen in the ranks ,owning a tele sales business in which she feels she can create a post for David albeit a lowly one. She enjoys watching David squirm along with her side-kick Paul, played by Gareth Milton. Both actors display their talents when they transform themselves into sleazy Duncan and the desperate Debbie. We are left with no misconception regarding the depths some may resort to in order to turn a quick buck by the end of that scene.

A surrealist section of the drama depicts society’s obsession with credit   ratings, pay upgrades  ,the “must have “ culture.

An excellent portrayal by Will Thorp  of David as a suspicious husband brought to this state following his wife ‘s inability to avoid the shops yet again. He is more concerned with her initial lack of honesty than the reason she called him to the hospital which results in a death.

A constant on stage is a fish tank complete with a fish swimming in its enclosed world, reminiscent of the last verse of Pink Floyd’s  “Wish You Were Here”

We're just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl,

Year after year,

Running over the same old ground.

What have we found?

The same old fears.

Is this how David felt about Jess?

Sara Lloyd-Gregory’s  performance of Jess was convincing throughout. In the final scene she is elated having just become engaged to David. She says that“she is so in love she could puke” .   This is obviously not enough for her though as she adds “I still want nice things” as if marriage will deprive her of that possibility.

Director Ryan Romain manages to effectively combine the dislocated scenes of the play each in turn grabbed the audience’s full attention.

Declan Randall’s effective use of lighting and the simplicity  of the set allow the talented group of actors to shine.

  Once I was told that being addicted to shopping was a form of self harming, at the time I was sceptical but am now convinced.

Alison Hughes.