All plays are of course based around our real experiences. It's the same with novels, poetry, songs - anything that could fall under the umbrella of "creative writing". LAGS is a play based on the writer's and director's own experiences, in which one of the main themes seems to be making as much as you can from the things you go through every day. The experiences in question which have lead to the play's production are in this case teaching in a prison and working for Social Security. It may, therefore, surprise many to discover that there are as many laughs to be had in this piece as any other. It's harsh and gritty at times, but never unenjoyable, and always entertaining.

The play centres around Eva, a dramatist who goes into prisons to teach, because it is what she loves to do, and she hopes that the inmates get something out of it in return. In this particular prison she comes up against a quiet but clearly influential criminal who appears willing to learn, but all is not what it seems. In the end, the warnings of the Prison Officer at the beginning ring true and Eva is forced to leave without giving the inmates anything... or is she?

The set is almost non-existent, chairs and two tables - one of which moves, the other of which does not - making do, but the atmosphere the room is quickly created by very plain, bright lighting which allows the audience to be seen almost wholly and creates a sense of being in the room watching what is going on, rather than watching what is happening from outside the invisible walls. The sound, too, is minimal, a buzzer and some incidental music at the start of each Act sufficing, which gives the play a sense of realism which isn't there in many other pieces, or indeed venues.

 The cast, too, are superb. At times it seems not much acting is required, merely the ability to sit about looking sullen, but even this requires training, as Eva might well point out, and when they are called upon they do their jobs admirably. Emma Fildes as Eva is often the only woman on stage, surrounded by five men, but not once does this come across as a real weakness, until it is made to do so. Claire Cogan is the other female cast member, her portrayal of Prison Officer Catesby appears to be one of a harsh, unsympathetic PO, and it only becomes apparent that this is exactly what is required towards these prisoners to the end of the play - but then that is, in part, the point - you don't always see all the sides of a person, and when you do see a certain facet of them it might well be that they are misunderstood.

 Among the men, Alisdair McKee's Skinner stands out as the funniest, coming up with random facts and statistics to support an argument that is not only pointless, but non-existent as well. It is Kolade Agboke as Burdock, though, who seems to run the show for long stretches, cutting just the right balance of menace and hints of something deeper below the surface.

It is a story of people, how even the most misinterpreted and riled people have other sides to them, and how the right person can bring those sides out. In this respect, as in all others so far mentioned, this play scores high. It is only the fact that until almost the end the point seemed to be missed that has let it down a little. Yes, it does correct that at the end, but I found myself wondering halfway through the second Act just what the writer was trying to say. Stick with it, though, and you shall be rewarded.

 It isn't every day a Hollywood scriptwriter teams up with a small Bristolian theatre production company, but if the result is a play like this (which evidently it is), then Show of Strength should go from, well, strength to strength in the future (if you'll forgive the pun). An extrememly tight, well produced and written piece, with some real insight if you're prepared to hang on to the end (which, as serious theatre goers, we all of course are).

 Just excellent.

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Ticket Prices:

£6 to £10 with concessions available

 Performance Times:

Monday to Wed evening's at 7.30PM

Friday and Saturday evening's at: 8.00PM

Saturday Matinee at 3.00PM

Aftershow Talkabout: Thurs 8 November

Matinee: Sat 10th November

Bedminster Bargain:

Wed 17th or Thurs 18th Oct all seats £5

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