The Match Box, Omnibus Theatre - ★★★★ - Until November 17, 2019


With “The Match Box” Frank McGuinness has created a terrific female role and Angela Marray as Sal gives a sensational performance. During two hours alone on stage she offers us a psychological study of a tragic life following the shooting of her twelve-year-old daughter. Sal's lack of acceptance of the death is alarmingly displayed in a very well staged and lit scene in the mortuary. Her subsequent heartbreaking appeal on TV goes against all the advice she has been given and the consequences are dreadful to discover. Seamlessly changing to other characters in Sal's life Angela Marray is mesmerising. McGuinness' language throughout is eloquent yet realistic; he gives us insights into Sal's tortured mind and the character becomes ghostly and terrifying in her self-belief. Throughout there is interesting use of matches to demonstrate the ethereal nature of life. In fact the entire production by James O'Donnell is well judged and keeps us on the edge of our seats. Small slices of humour, especially relating to the family pets, break the tension only for it to be wound up taut as a drum again. “Great stories – well told” is the company's motto and with this piece it certainly delivers. 

Reviewed by D.S.J.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until November 17, 2019
Tue - Sat: 7:30 pm, Sun: 4 pm
Omnibus Theatre
Nearest tube: Clapham Common
Map & Location: 1 Clapham Common North Side, Clapham, London SW4 0QW, UK

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