Feedback from The Goat

STAGE REVIEW: ARE there no limits to the talents of Helen Reading and her innovative RedTIE Theatre company? Having walked off with an armful of awards at the last County Press theatre awards for her work on and off stage with RedTIE, Helen last week directed one of the most powerful pieces of drama ever staged on the Island.The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, by Edward Albee, is an explosive black comedy about a long-married couple whose lives fall apart when the husband falls in love... with a goat called Sylvia.Like a rollercoaster, the play grips you and shakes you to the core. You stumble out of the theatre afterwards, your mind racing with broken taboos, existential questions and profound revelations about life, love and the universe.The script is crammed with hard-hitting one-liners: "Nothing means anything." "Things happen." "I don't know if there are any rules..." "Kill her? I think I might as well."The performances, by Terrie Burland (Stevie), Phil Burland (Martin), Steve Reading begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting (as family friend, Ross) and Ben Curtis (the couple’s son, Billy) were exceptional — courageous, polished, breath-taking. As good as it gets.This was certainly not entertainment for the faint-hearted. Plates were smashed by the dozen, profanities came thick and fast.RedTIE theatre is known for tackling daunting plays about pithy issues — murder and forgiveness, domestic abuse, learning difficulties, to name a few. But after The Goat, are there any taboos left to challenge?

Hi Helen.
Just a line to say how much we enjoyed this production. As you said, it's a well written play that treads in areas that are difficult to engage with at the best of times. I think the acting was really accomplished and delivered with a natural fluid pace. Personally, I don't particularly like to hear too much gratuitus bad language but it was entirely appropriate within this piece. We really appreciated the way that one was taken from real comedy to serious issues within the blink of an eye!It would obviously not be everyone's cup of tea (I noticed that John Hannam left at the interval) but it would have certainly demonstrated to those who missed it, how this kind of production should be accomplished. Congratulations to you and the cast.