FALLING By Roger Goldsmith.

Meet Ella (Francesca McCrohon) and Ben (Aaron Holdaway) two people living separate lives in different parts of London. Struggling with understanding and navigating through the breakdown of relationships.

Ben has it all (on the surface) a four-bedroomed house in a desirable location in London, BMW on the drive, well-paid job and a beautiful partner.

Ella is well-liked in the office where she works and has a love for the National Theatre area on the Southbank.

The stories develop and the characters cross paths as their worlds change and have fallen apart. Neither of them could ever have predicted what their futures held.

Ella’s description of the domestic violence she experiences begins with the fast “love bombed” actions that a narcissistic perpetrator subjects you to. Once they hook you in, you’re trapped and the rest begins to “feel normal” and you’re brainwashed into believing that your problem.

Escaping and getting any form of justice from an abusive relationship isn’t portrayed accurately in my experience. However, hopefully, as the laws strengthen it will be something that will happen more often in the future.

I did find the timeline didn’t necessarily correlate with how the storyline develops. With tightening that up it has the potential to be a strong play. However, reviewing a play with too many spoilers is a real challenge.

Holdaway and McCrohon are extremely strong actors and both characters are believable and likable. I ended up wanting the best outcome for both of them at the end.

Three Stars.

Two Ton Tony by Peter McCrohon.

Writer and director Peter McCrohon brings to life the story of Tony Galento. An American Heavy Weight boxer who came on the scene during the 1930s. Two Ton Tony gives the audience a first-hand account of his sporting and private life.

The play offers a fast-paced performance which engages with the audience throughout. Tony wasn’t a particularly likeable person and often made crude inappropriate comments to those around him. Although in this performance by John Paul McCrohon Tony appears to have been quite charismatic.

Pauly (Peter McCrohon) Tony’s companion attempts to keep Tony on the right path as he relives some of his past victories and offers insight into Tony’s life skirted around by the boxer as he edits his history.

The real life Tony had been a bar owner and claimed to have trained to fight on a diet of eating and drinking beer, hamburgers, and spaghetti. He was renowned for being one of the most colourful characters to ever contend for the heavyweight title.

From what I have read about Tony Galento his ego would have been flattered to know that this play paid homage to his career. However, with his dirty fighting habits and tactics, he would have been banned for life in today’s sporting climate.

Four Stars.

For more information on these two plays and future productions at Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre please use the link below.

https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/venues-in-portsmouth/southsea-cinema-and-arts-centre-p2143811