Review: DramaSoc’s Pomona

Nestled in the unsuspecting Drama Barn, Pomona transports you to an urban nightmare where nothing is really as it seems 4 stars.

(Image: Miri Huntley)

Produced by Matt Wilson and directed by Claire Cole, Pomona blurs the distinction between fiction and reality.

The fragmented narrative is centered around Rubik’s cubes and the rolling of dice, making you question what is real and what is not.  

In the fictional underbelly of Manchester, sinister crimes are allowed to happen, enabled by individuals who turn up to their jobs and don’t ask questions.

The performance centralises around Ollie’s quest for her sister, which translates to a role playing game between Charlie and Keaton.

Left to right: Monica Yell as Faye, Eleanor Holman as Ollie. Image: Miri Huntley

All round, the acting was at a very high level, benefitting from a simple set design and eerie soundtrack. The cast have an excellent chemistry with one another, making the show easy to be drawn into.

Caitlin Berry’s impressive portrayal of the stony-faced, straight-talking Keaton was reminiscent of Millie Bobby Brown’s depiction of Eleven in Stranger Things. Her ability to solve so many Rubiks Cubes is also quite remarkable.

Left to right: Jessie Taussig as Gale, Luke McDonald as Moe, George Robertson as Charlie, Credit: Miri Huntley

Eleanor Holman brought an air of mystery and simplicity to Ollie, delivering lines with a directness that made her character truly credible.  

George Robertson and Luke McDonald who played Charlie and Moe/Zeppo gave a very thorough performance, using each other’s energy to drive their individual performances.

Jessie Taussig gave a powerful performance as Gale, bringing so much emotion into her role. Their performance was so unique, making her character feel very real.

Monica Yell as Faye. Image: Miri Huntley

Monica Yell, who played Faye, handled delicate scenes with grace and sensitivity, transporting you to the dystopian reality. Yell brought a likeability to the character, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats, routing for Faye’s success.  

The play presents lots of unknowns, providing some answers, but breeding even more questions. There were scenes which had the audience squirming, as well as moments which had the crowd laughing out loud.

Tickets are still available for DramaSoc’s final night of Pomona, Sunday 23rd October 2022 at 7:30PM.