"The Swearing Jar" by Kate Hewlett
Carey and Simon are an otherwise-perfect married couple with a bit of a swearing problem. They're determined to kick the habit by the time their baby is born. Carey introduces a swearing jar, you know the sort of thing where if either of you swear, you put money in the jar. The swearing though isn't their only issue. Simon has a secret. And Carey has a new friend – a musician named Owen that she met at a bookstore, and whom she has asked to throw a concert for Simon's birthday.
This play is one of two halves, and is possibly one of the most emotional plays that I've seen. If you go and see this play, no, when you go and see this play, because you should go and see this play, take some tissues.
I'd not read anything about the play, I've not seen the film that was made, so went into this play with a complete blank canvas as to what to expect. All I knew was that it was billed as a rom-com with music. That description grossly under values this play.
In Act One Carey and Simon are the typical loved up pair with all that silly banter that loved up couples have. Carey and Simon have something to tell each other, so Caret goes first and tells Simon, in her own banterish way that they are going to be parents. We never get to hear what Simon has to tell Carey as the news delivered about the baby takes over. By the end of Act One though we surmise what that possible undelivered news may have been.
Act Two sees Carey and Simon's mother, Bev, going through emotions about their loss, and that is when this play really kicked in, on a personal level for me. Carey sniffs at Simon's clothes because they still smell of her husband, and Carey then finds out something else, a secret which causes a rift between her and Bev.
We see Carey's way of dealing with her loss and we also see her attempt to be happy after a while with Owen as they plan the concert for what would have been Simon's 40th Birthday. The emotions that Carey feels about the man she loved, and still loves are visibly raw, even after years that have passed. It really shows that when you have found the love of your life, your soulmate, that no one can replace them, ever. It also shows the guilt you feel over being happy as well as the guilt over rash decisions made in the heat of the emotional moment.
Paige Round plays Carey. She poured such emotion into the part and her singing voice is superb and heartfelt. You know when you first hear "Without You" from the musical "Ghost", and the hair on your neck stands up and you go cold? That is exactly how I felt with these songs and Paige's voice.
Joe Wiltshire Smith plays Simon. Simon is the kind of bloke you want to go out for a pint with and a bit of banter, and Joe brings that character to Simon. I loved the playful teasing between the characters. There is so much chemistry here between the two that it was like being a fly on the wall of most young couples who have just found out that their love has been cemented by the expectancy of a baby.
Stanton Wright plays Owen. Owen is attracted to Carey as soon as she walks into the library where he works, but Carey omits to fill him in on a few areas of her life; like being married, when she kisses him. This causes a conflict of emotions for Owen, which is carried over the years. Stanton is a wonderful guitarist, as we discover when he plays live in the play, and when Stanton and Paige duet, it's pure magic, especially for me on "Forgetting Your Face".
Tanya Myers, who I've known for many years now, plays Bev. I've seen Tanya in only a few plays because I know that she picks her roles carefully, and I am so glad that she picked this one. Bev, in some ways, remind me of the role that Maureen Lipman plays in Coronation Street; a bit of an acid drop but when you get past that acidity, you taste sweetness. I have always loved Maureen Lipman's character acting, likewise I've always loved watching Tanya on stage. There is joy and there is desperate emotion, as well as anger and love in this role and Tanya can do it all.
Directed by Angharad Jones; this is the UK premiere of this play with music. and to make sure that this level of emotion hits right where it should do takes a very special talent, and Angharad has that talent. I also loved the unsure opening for the play, making you wonder what was happening. Straight away, I knew that I was in for something different. I was not wrong. A Directorial delight that made you want to sit up and watch.
The set design is by Gemma Caseley-Kirk, and this made for an interesting stage set where the library is wrapped around Carey and Simon's home. With just a movement of the couch in Act Two though, it depicted how change had affected Carey. Very clever.
Alexander Stafford is in charge of the lighting design. Simple fades to depict time movement and the end to Act One really creates the mood. I won't say why, but when you see it, you'll know what I mean.
The Musical Director is Joe Danks, who helped create one of the most moving soundtracks that I've heard in a very long time. the musicianship and singing were spine tingling.
As I said earlier, this is the UK Premiere of this play, and in my opinion, it's one of the best new things that I have seen and urge you to see it when you can. I had no idea of the emotional re-awakening this story would have on me, and it hit me like a sledgehammer. If emotion equals good theatre, then this is great theatre. Absolutely unmissable.
This is the final performance at this venue but please go to the New Perspective website, https://newperspectives.co.uk/?idno=1184&s=96, to get more details of the forthcoming tour of "The Swearing Jar".
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