Alexander Trustrum Thomas and Peregrine Fellowes wrote and directed, respectively, a short play called I See Simon and it was taken up to Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer to be performed at a intimate venue within The Zoo Roxy.
The actors fit their roles so perfectly that at no point did the characters feel fake.
The outline of the story is simple, but the order in which the scenes are played out and the depth of the characters is far from it.
The playful pub scenes are riddled with tension, and though Dominic Sudnik plays a wonderful drunk the scene is blackened as we know the outcome of his drink driving.
The use of the stage is creative and compelling. In such a small space there is only so much one can do but Peregrine finds a way to position the characters to get the best impact during their monologues, and the contrast of the man sitting passively in the chair with the woman pacing up and down creates a wonderful aesthetic.
The power with which Thea Beyleveld commands a stage is overwhelming for the intimate audience and her emotions are so pure and natural, we can't help but sympathise.
Oliver Tobin, playing the titular part of Simon, is an understated and charming actor. He plays the part with such ease and zeal we, the audience, feel comfortable and secure with him, just as the woman does.
Overall the play was a beautiful depiction of how complex the minds of people can be and how a comfortable marriage is not always so simple. Human emotion is a whirlwind, and I See Simon takes us straight through the eye of the storm.
I wish the group the best of luck with further endeavours together or solo.
