All Because Of Molly – Lowry Theatre, Salford
Writer: Paul Ferguson
Director: James Baker
Reviewer: Laura Maley
The Public Reviews Rating: 
Girlie girl Jaime and tomboy Casey bond over their dislike of the primary school bully, Molly. All Because Of Molly follows their unlikely friendship past graduation, taking in secondary school, dating, drinking, university life and other rites of passage.
From the beginning of the play, Jaime and Casey step out of scenes from the past to give the audience a present day commentary, using seminal moments of the girls’ friendship to explain why the eventual ending is so important. This technique works well, done in spotlight it’s always obvious that this is happening, rather than confusing.
The rapport between Jaime (Alison Flevill) and Casey (Laura Lindsay) is impressive and clearly reflects a lifelong strong friendship. Writer Paul Ferguson’s dialogue – which includes them finishing each others’ sentences, in-jokes, disagreements and moments of sarcasm – feels easy and natural.
Equally praiseworthy are Christabel Brown and Tamira Hamam who each, astonishingly, play 13 characters each, from gym instructor to pushy mum and from creepy guy in nightclub to annoying housemate. Brown and Hamam are often together on stage but some of their characters interact with Jaime and Casey. Both have cracking comic timing, a plethora of accents and a fine line in physical comedy. At times their sub plots marginally overpower Jaime and Casey’s story, because the audience laughs so hard that their conversation is lost momentarily.
Staging is practical, thoughtful and simple, with a set consisting of four white wooden boxes used as furniture and for prop storage, as well as slamming shut to emphasise a particular point.
The play is fast paced (nearly hectic in places, when it’s not immediately clear that minor characters have changed mid-scene), with lots of characters, movement and laughter until the twist of a dramatic event in a nightclub which shows exactly why the girls’ friendship is so important. From then on, there is no more comedy and no minor characters, just two best friends facing a devastatingly emotional finale. It’s a brave shift in Ferguson’s script and director James Baker handles it sensitively and intelligently, building up the audience’s expectation throughout the play that there will be a major twist.
All Because Of Molly is an impressive piece from Organised Chaos Productions which moves effortlessly from comedy to deal with an extremely sensitive issue, exploring the limits of friendship and provoking a powerful emotional response.
Runs until 3rd Sept
Tags: Alison Flevill, All Because of Molly, Christabel Brown, James Baker, Laura Lindsay, Lowry Theatre, Organised Chaos Productions, Paul Ferguson, Salford, Tamira Hamam
4:24 pm on September 4th, 2011
I saw this play last night at the Lowry. I can’t recommend it enough – but take tissues! All the cast and crew should be thoroughly proud of themselves. I left exhausted and very wet with tears – amazing. The standing ovation was well deserved.
5:57 am on September 6th, 2011
I really enjoyed this production, and would definitely recommend it to others. It is very moving, and the actors do a great job without any fancy scenes or props to back them up, you don’t feel this is a low budget production as you are caught up in the story throughout – well done!