Echoes by Richard N. Nash – A Review

This striking performance, directed by Erica Miller, immediately grabbed the attention from the opening line.

The principle characters Sam & Tilda appear to be at first simply enjoying putting up their Christmas decorations, (this they are miming, but we accept that in theatre). All is not what it seems however, their frantic activity is amusing but it is also disturbing – something is wrong but it remains intangible.

The truth begins to emerge soon enough – they are both locked up in a psychiatric hospital. As this realization deepens seriousness descends on the still often amusing performance.

To add to the depth of this unsettling scene, one character is kept sat at the back of the stage throughout, silent, observing. This directorial decision to add the silent observer works well to contribute tension and a sense of ‘otherness’ about the story.

This feeling gradually becomes more intense as their audience are pulled inexorably into the madness of Sam & Tilda. Disturbing, touching and tender and even funny, the two actors proved their talent completely.

The third silent character speaks, without voice, this add to the pathos of Sam & Tilda’s situation, it is genuinely heartbreaking when it hits you full force, that they can not actually ‘hear’ this character, they are isolated in their madness.

When the third silent character, called “The Person” by the other two, enters the proceedings he instills a palpable dread. Here it seems the audience are suddenly privy to the purpose of “The Person”, he is the psychiatrist.

The climax occurs when Sam does the feared and unimaginable and speaks back to “The Person” something that he and Tilda have avoided at all costs until this point. Sam is then slowly led away from a now hysterical Tilda who is left alone without even her imaginary friends in her madness, sobbing, calling for her mother in the dark.

This production moved me to tears. Not least because of the energy and the truly convincing performances from the actors. This play gives you a sense of the tragedy and pain of madness, by adopting the perspective of looking out onto a ‘sane’ world from within the prison of your mind.

It is a shame these performances was a one off, having said that, I am not sure how often you could ask for or expect that level of commitment and excellence from your actors. It must be exhausting to play characters as highly charged and complex as Sam & Tilda. This was just a staged reading; it makes me wonder what Erica Miller could bring to a full play.

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