Plastic

by Kenneth Emson

Kev used to be captain of the school football team. Scored the winner in the All-Essex Schools Cup Final. He used to have a girlfriend called Lisa; she wore a fitted blazer, and lit up the playground. Ben used to get beaten up most days. He stole money from his mum’s purse to pay off Wicksy. Then there was Ben’s mate Jack. Loyal, unbreakable Jack.

88 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 3, 2028

Reviews

[Doug]

Although this may indeed 'play' well, the script itself had two big demerits for me going in. 1. about 75% of it is direct address to the audience, which I really detest; and 2. the entire thing is written in blank free verse - huh? WHY? Aside from these deficiencies, the entire play is rather ... distasteful, even though it doesn't exactly go where you expect from the constant red herrings.

The other thing I disliked is the structure, wherein the chronology is constantly skewed, so it's hard to know where you are in time. Still, it takes less than an hour to read, and barely more than that to perform, so not a total waste of time.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/201...

[Pence08]

I was lucky enough to see the original production in London, and while reading the script is no replacement for that visceral experience of a being in the room with the actors, the rhythm, repetition and rhyme developed by the playwright ensures that this is still a highly memorable read.
We join a group of warped Essex youngsters who, through the use of a non-linear narrative, are trapped in and dependant on the past. All are cloaked in sadness as they revisit life-defining moments.
And just when I thought I had the ending pegged with the mentions of Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook, there is a shattering twist...and Kev's kick only shows what pressure we place on our young sporting gods. A powerful experience.

[Aislin Winsor]

On paper it’s a difficult read. Would love to see it on its feet.