Drama Barn: Couldn’t Ask For Another

Couldn’t ask for another is a charming, thought provoking and intelligent original screen play currently showing at Drama Barn.

It simultaneously tells the story of a couple at the beginning of their marriage and twenty years into it. Not suitable for those who don’t want their belief in ‘happily ever after’ shaken, you see the decline in their relationship as the horrors of life and love are displayed on stage.

The screenplay and direction by Rose Rea and Charles Rivington shine through with brilliant dramatic moments directly paralleled with the uncomplicated happiness of young love. They also managed to ensure the play keeps a fast pace with many comedic moments throughout, despite the dark material it deals with.

The acting is also impressive with the full ensemble delivering fantastic performances. Charles, played by James Oliver, was able to display the fragilty of his character while retaining the passion and humour shown in his youth. This humorous character is represented in his youth by Sam Lawson. Lawson is able to hurdle the many obstacles thrown at him in his attempts at wooing the young Cassandra with an unrelenting will for things to be going better. Young Cassandra, played by Laura Horton, shows the dreaming idyllic young writer and she successfully displays hints of her future, more bitter self as reality doesn’t meet expectations. The angry and tortured woman she becomes is portrayed by Francesca Isherwood, who is able to show the internal battles of the character and the suffocating dislike of herself. A special mention should also be made to Laura Ward Nokes playing Annette, an employee of the hotel chain, who delivers a lot of the comedy. This accumulation of brilliant performances helps bring a sophisticated and exciting screenplay to life onstage.

When forced to think of criticism for the review it would only be that a small interval would freshen the audience for some of the later inner monologues which were a bit long and broke the humorous pace of the play.

Those points aside it is a fantastic play and is a great addition to the thriving drama scene at York. When realising I was going to see an original screenplay I was dubious, however have been very pleasantly surprised at the talented this shows both on and off stage. Still playing on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th with tickets on the door I would definitely advise going to see it.