JC Naila’s writing reminds us that when love is approached with a openness, kindness and willingness to change, nothing has to be out of bounds
Fresh from development on the Oxford Playhouse’s very own Playmaker’s programme, the rehearsed reading of Out Of Bounds provided an impactful and touching end to Oxford Queer Fest. JC Naila is an obvious storyteller, creating compelling characters whose budding romance flourishes despite a backdrop deceit, class divide and cultural animosity.
The play spans the late 90’s to early 2000’s, leading us through changing time and circumstance with ease. Yet, through the voices of Mama Felicity and Grace, the mothers of our two female protagonists, we are also given insight into the challenges faced by earlier generations. Naila’s writing is nuanced and thoughtful; though the play explores several thematic concerns, it never feels heavy or overloaded. While the cast had only received the script three days prior to the reading, their connection to their characters shone through, a further merit to the instant emotional pull of Naila’s writing. The chemistry between Rose (Olivia Hunt) and Felicity (Bel Odawa) was particularly beautiful to watch, portraying a queer love story which, to my enjoyment, was never an obstacle in and of itself. Too often we are given queer storylines where the action involves nothing beyond the process of simply allowing a queer relationship to exist. Their queerness was only ever an asset, never an obstacle.
Felicity’s relationship with her mother, played skilfully by Virgina Thompson, was a fantastic subplot, exploring the sacrifices we make for our families and the parameters of what love can mean. Rose and her mother Grace’s (Mara Gold) relationship was an interesting counterpoint to this, evidently full of love but often devoid of warmth or empathy. Of course this piece is still in development, but there were moments, particularly with Grace’s character, where a little more back story would perhaps give the airing of her harsh opinions more context and emotional impact.
It was a joy to watch this script emerging in its earliest days, a real testament to the brilliant and encouraging platform that is the Burton Taylor Studio. I hope to see it grow off the page and into a fully fledged performance- one that I am certain would validate, move and uplift today’s audiences.