GLUE, OVALHOUSE THEATRE, ⭐️⭐️

Time Won't Wait presents Glue, a one woman show based on Louise Wallwein's life in foster care. With questions left unanswered and a constant searching for clues, Wallwein discusses the aftermath of being a child in care and the effect it has on the relationships with her friends, her family and herself.

Written by Wallwein, the piece provides bursts of intricate, metaphorical text, softly accompanied by musician Jaydev Mistry. Mistry delivers well crafted nostalgic sounds that combine smoothly with the piece. Despite moments of well formed poetry, the piece is delivered in a laboured and dramatic manner, with the text being paired with literal physical actions giving the piece an all together old fashioned feel. Directed by Susan Roberts, the multi-rolling is half-baked with not-quite-there accents, predictable characterisations and no real sense of a physical presence from any of the characters.

Wallwein recalls go-go dancing in a nightclub, which momentarily wakes the audience with feel good music, funky dancing and pink disco lights, however we swiftly slip back into the plodding pace of Wallwain's storytelling. The poet surprisingly finds her words directly from a script placed on stage, rather than having learnt the words from memory.

The piece comes from a heartfelt place, and I desperately want to connect with the dark themes of hardship and displacement, yet I can't help but feel the story shouts "Poor me!" a little too loud. Wallwein states, "There is no happy ending", and unfortunately the statement rings true for this piece. - Faye Butler