Having already had a successful run at Theatre N16, BJ McNeill’s Torn Apart (dissolution) returns to London for a run at the Hope Theatre. A poignant and graphic look at love and loss from some very different viewpoints, but with a strong emphasis on the female voice.
Spanning three decades, we intrude in to the bedrooms of three sets of lovers. Each vignette revealing a little more about the relationship, the connection to the other couples and the difficulties the relationship faces. At first glance it can sometimes feel like there’s not a lot happening, but an exploration of the piece as a whole shows a greater depth to the writing.
Presented in the round, a double bed takes centre stage and this is where most of the action happens. The actors are confined within a wooden frame, which takes up much of the theatre. Strands of twine create a cage, and are all that separate them from the audience in the intimate space.
This staging also helps convey the feelings of being trapped, the actors often reaching out of the cage. This is sometimes combined with rage filled choreography that adds yet another dimension to this already complex piece of theatre.
There are some powerful performances; Monty Leigh and Elliot Rogers in particular, but all six deliver their roles with passion and raw emotion.
It feels incredibly voyeuristic in the way it’s so unashamedly exposed and, at times graphic. But it never feels like anything is only there for the audiences titillation, instead, everything is crucial to the plot or character development. That makes for an incredibly intriguing production.
Torn Apart (dissolution) takes us from early eighties West-Germany to London in the present day, with a soundtrack to match. A strong cast bring alive some powerful writing, making this a compelling watch.
Read our interview with writer and director Bj McNeill Here
