Tom Nemec delivers a heartfelt retrospective with effective simplicity
Tom Nemec is a brilliant storyteller. Within minutes, he makes you forget you are in a small studio theatre and instead you feel you are sitting together with the audience around a campfire, listening to a relative’s life story. Nemec is a gentle and subtle performer, guiding us through the folds of his memory without rushing or forcing conclusions, making for a comforting watch. Though his story delves into difficult subject matter, exploring terminal illness, alcoholism and neglect, Nemec approaches these topics through a healing lens, aiming to reconcile his difficult childhood with the person he has become, and offering audience members who may relate the space to do the same.
Balancing vivid description with occasional physical reenactment, Nemec conjures a strong sense of time and place despite his bare stage – watching A Cat In A Box is a masterclass in how to sustain a monologue. However, there were a few moments where the writing became somewhat muddled, making the timeline sometimes difficult to decipher. Conversely, there were plenty of intentional repetitions and growing motifs which were highly effective, allowing us to understand Nemec’s ever-evolving relationship with childhood trauma and self discovery.
I am glad Nemec decided to share his story at this year’s Fringe, and would encourage anyone looking for nostalgic theatre and beautiful storytelling to go and hear it for themselves.
SHOW LISTING: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/a-cat-in-a-box
Listing Information:
Venue: Theatre 3 at the Space Surgeon’s Hall
Time: 14:05-14:55 (50 mins)
Dates: 7th-15th of Aug
Tickets: £12.50/ Concessions £8.50 / Seniors £6.50
Age: 14+
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / http://www.edfringe.com
Very thoughtful review. But at no time do I ever mention or infer divorce , it is just not or ever was a part of my story.
Many apologies for this mistake – it has been rectified in the review!