This nuanced exploration of friendship and memory takes time to find its momentum
Two former best friends run into each other at the airport. One, off on a family holiday, is perpetually tired and “smelling faintly of vomit”; the other is headed on an all-expenses-paid business trip to Amsterdam. The conversation is awkward and anticlimactic – as these things often are – but triggers a cascade of memories from the kindling of their friendship through to its dissolution. Presented as a monologue, Age explores connection, shame, and moving on through the lens of a single, claustrophobic friendship. Although slow to develop, it lands on something genuinely profound about what we choose to remember, and the power of human connection in spite of, or perhaps because of, its transience.
Age forms part of the Bitesize Festival, celebrating 50 years of Riverside Studios through 50 shows over 35 days. At just one hour, this intimate story promises a propulsive narrative. In practice, the show splits unevenly into two halves. The first focuses on largely inconsequential primary school antics, which could easily be pruned into a brief montage. This bagginess is compounded by a script that places mature, abstract philosophical conversations into the mouths of two 8 year-olds in a way that never feels authentic.
A tipping point arrives halfway through. The airport meeting is replayed from the perspective of the other friend, subtly casting doubt on everything that’s come before. This is where Age really finds its biting point, and begins to gather real emotional momentum: the writing deepens, and Aarron Rooney’s performance becomes more empathetic. When the friends share secrets in the dark at a sleepover, it reveals a gap between their outward and inner lives; following their friendship’s collapse, one friend’s rejection in their hour of need is heart-wrenching; a powerful final scene returns to this idea of memory and celebrates the transient power of friendship.
Rooney adopts different accents for each friend, but they’re not distinct enough to be immediately recognisable. This results in hazy scene openings, with the audience grasping for clues to match each character to their dialogue. One friend is anxious and socially reserved, a big fan of Buster Keaton; the other is more confident and mature, at least initially. The performance might be clearer as a two-hander, but the clever way Age plays with narrative justifies the decision to deliver everything from a single performer. As an added bonus, a very funny play-fighting scene is quite the challenge to deliver in a monologue!
As Age’s meandering first half gives way to a powerful second, the audience’s patience is rewarded with a compelling narrative and intelligent writing. It’s just a shame it takes so long to get there.
Age staged three performances as part of the Bitesize Festival, across 31st July and 1st August. Other shows at the festival, alongside the great value ‘50 Shows for £50 Bitesize Pass’, can be found here.