QR Review - Ross & Rachel by Queen's Players
Ross & Rachel is the first play staged by QUB players for the 2018/19 year and it was certainly a challenging and unflinching show to start the year with. Ross & Rachel, a play from Olivier nominated playwright James Fritz was first staged at the Edinburgh Fringe and has since toured the UK and been featured off Broadway.
The play uses the eponymous couple from Friends as a baseline of sorts, even if you’ve never seen an episode of friends you’ll know the story of Ross & Rachel and, while not a sequel per se, the play uses a number of references to the show and the characters for its own purposes.
The show opens with the couple having an argument around how people perceive them as a whole, as a couple. Something which immediately sets the tone for the show, with the coming together traditionally seen as the happy ending instead being a particular point of contention. The weariness of both parties makes evident this is an argument they have had a million times, another bump in the road just like those their namesakes often encountered. Then comes the ultimate roadblock; Ross gets diagnosed with cancer. From here the play deals with how each person has grown since their happy ever after and how they each handle Ross’ diagnosis. Ross appears to remain utterly infatuated with Rachel repeating his shock that she is with him, while for Rachel, the glow appears to be fading.
As you would imagine a play like this relies heavily on the performances of its leads. The play was originally staged as one man show at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe. The QUB players however, separated the roles with Tom Davis-Coleman playing Ross & Orlaith Feenan starring as Rachel, with a small ensemble playing the roles of the nameless crowds drifting in and out of the story. This more traditional structure gives rise to some genuine moments of tension, tenderness and humour. Feenan & Coleman have great chemistry and both excellently portray the reluctant anger of an arguing couple.
Ross' deterioration as his cancer worsens is similarly well represented, as Ross becomes more wild and desperate as he has to face his illness. This performance demonstrates the stark horror of what they were facing whilst retaining a sense of realism, which is key to the show. Feenan also deserves much praise for her performance, in particular her monologue regarding a potential suitor, and a dream sequence toward the end. The use of the ensemble in key scenes also works to keep the focus on the leads, whilst also giving some identity to the faceless crowds surrounding the couple and their history. A nightclub scene where Ross tries to tell fellow revellers about Rachel is particularly effective as each person ignores him and takes a silent position at the edges of the stage, slowly ostracising him.
The staging is similarly incredibly effective; an understated but masterful staging embodies the sentiments of the show and the leads. A bath is used centre stage as a line in the sand between the two during their increasingly fractious arguments. A litany of day-to-day items, such as coffee cups, hang from the ceiling, playing into the sentiment of grounding the grand myth of the modern love story in the stark reality of a genuine relationship. This also works in emphasising the triviality of life in the face of Ross’ diagnosis. On top of this, the show employs an excellent use of music and home video style footage to perfectly demonstrate the mythical, nostalgic relationship the couple still long for. The small venue and stark staging, paired with the enrapturing performances of the leads, draw in the audience to an intimate relationship with the characters, heightening our own involvement with this fabled couple.
If there is a criticism for the show it is that the structure of the show, jumping forward to in and weeks at a time, may leave some audience members confused. However, in this adaptation, the QUB players limited this as much as possible.
The show as a whole is an unwavering look at what happily ever after means in the context of the real world, how it is a constant ongoing process rather than the ultimate ending seen in The Last One or any number of love stories akin to Ross & Rachel. The show succeeds excellently at this with the fantastic performances of Davis-Coleman & Feenan carrying this difficult story with ease. It is a recommendation for Friends fans or otherwise. A powerful show and a strong start from an excellent cast, as well as a promising sign of what QUB Players have in store for the year ahead.
This Review is based on the October 4th Performance of Ross & Rachel by QUB Players which was staged in The Brian Friel Theatre in the QFT on October 3rd & 4th
By Sean Hughes