An opportunity to explore our personal realities from a fresh perspective, captured through the lens of art
Second Hand Problems is a play by Emma Kelly, directed by Neta Gracewell, showing at Theatro Technis as part of the Camden Fringe.
The play presents three stories of six women across different time periods, focusing on their personal struggles and how these challenges are part of a larger narrative. It also highlights the power of shared grief and joy, and how these women provide invaluable support to one another in confronting and overcoming their most difficult personal challenges.
This drama, with a few touches of comedy, effectively conveys the importance of intergenerational sisterhood in some of life’s hardest situations.
Without giving away any spoilers, here is a brief synopsis: The play unfolds through three distinct stories. In 1985, Mel sorts through old items in her basement during her mother’s wake. She discovers a secret her mother had kept from almost everyone, that without expecting it, relieves Mel and encourages her to break the cycle of shame her family is stuck in. The second story, set in 2005 at an abortion clinic, follows Cat as she is filling her form minutes away from her appointment, struggling to take the hardest decision of her life, head full of dilemmas and doubts. Her deceased mother appears, attempting to assist her, or so it seems. The final story, set in 2022, features Alice on the day of her wedding. She visits a charity shop and meets Carol, a woman that has had four husbands, and apparently a not very happy ending with the fourth one. They soon discover they have more in common than they thought and that they need each other more than ever.
One of the major accomplishments of this production is its ability to convey a powerful message and evoke strong emotions by making good use of a fairly reduced amount of elements ranging from physical objects and costumes to sound and lighting.
There was some confusion between the first two stories, as it was not always clear that they involved different characters. Rearranging the order of the stories could potentially reduce this confusion. Additionally, the play begins with a very dramatic and intense tone before shifting to a lighter mood, which felt somewhat jarring rather than organic.
The acting was overall very good. The actress who portrayed Alice was particularly outstanding, with exceptional energy, physicality, and precision.
A special mention is deserved for how the script cleverly portrays the intergenerational aspect of personal problems. The artistic choices, both conceptual and physical, effectively underscore the theme of “second hand” issues.
This production is better suited for audiences aged 16 and over, rather than the promoted age of 14.
Every effort to create art is commendable and worthy of recognition, especially when it contributes to healing and enhancing our lives. Congratulations to the entire team for their work on this play, and best wishes for future endeavours.