AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review. Opinions are my own.
TW: Strobe lighting, Loud sounds, Gunshot sound effects KENREX also contains references to sexual and physical abuse, and depicts physical violence and death.
A dramatic and equally intriguing production.
A true-crime show is playing at the Sheffield Theatre’s Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse. KENREX written by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian, directed by Ed Stambollouian and with music by John Patrick Elliott. KENREX is a fantastic piece of new theatre!
KENREX tells the story of Ken Rex McElroy and the decade long horror involving crimes from theft to attempted murder he put the town of Skidmore in Missouri through. While the town suffers Ken Rex’s lawyer and the justice system keeps him out! But after ten years of dread and the shooting of beloved member of the community Bo Bowenkamp, the smalltown decides to take matters into their own hands to get what they want.
Written through the eyes of David Baird, a prosecuting attorney, this show is a well thought out piece of interesting theatre. We jump from event to event and back to what is an interview with Baird, when being shown an event, the pace slowly ramps up and results into a level of tension each time and also are quite dark, and we then cut back to the interview which to me relieved the tension. KENREX is a play with music, containing an interesting soundtrack composed and also performed by John Patrick Elliott. The soundtrack is powerful and really helps set the tones of the scenes. With elements of Rock and Country sound to it, Elliott’s smart and also dramatic soundtrack results into a very effective frame for scenes to place against, which for me, I really admired and is brilliantly composed. What I liked here is that Holden and Stambollouian write the scenes that are shown in what the show called parts and chapters, which actually is easily followed by the audience, and does avoid room for confusion. Both Holden and Stambollouian write the show mainly as one person who plays many characters but also has a tape recorder playing out dialogue of our interviewer which is great to have. Skillfully each individual character is written really well, while also having good descriptions for locations such as when at the beginning we are told about the town of Skidmore. The dialogue comes across as natural and isn’t forced; it's easy to be understood as it is being presented with the soundtrack of the show either after or during the music. The pair takes what some would call unbelievable events and brilliantly brings them to a theatrical setting, they are Intense, Exciting and Thrilling! This piece is terrifically written, writers Holden and Stambollouian write a show that is dark and telling which also has moments of unease while also taking you through these true life events.
With direction by Ed Stambollouian, Stambollouian directs the show well. Stambollouian managers to keep the thrill of the piece in the direction. Stambollouian gets Holden to run up and down steps on to a platform, to wheeling a frame that acts like a door, window, a phone box and more, it’s quick paced and greatly timed. Something I really liked from Stambollouian’s direction was the minimal usage of props, while just having the microphone stands present as a counter, to some it could be confusing, but to me it did the opposite it allowed more imagination for the settings. Stambollouian liked to use the microphone for the majority of the piece having around 10, maybe less, microphones all used for a purpose of creating what was Skidmore town coming together to fight back or having them at different levels to represent characters while having a phone call. Another thing I liked about Stambollouian’s direction is the choice of beginning of act 2. We are replayed back moments of act 1 to remind us what happened or where we are at in terms of the story. Personally some of the dialogue has this sort of way that seems to be directed to the audience but also feels like it isn’t and feels like a part of the interview scenes, to me it wasn’t quite fully directed towards us but had a slight feeling like it was. Stambollouian directs like we as an audience are seeing David reliving these events he’s being told in his head, and when we go into the scenes in Skidmore it’s the information that plays out, and then at some points it's unexpectedly straight back to the interview but it’s clear to the audience when we do go back. Stambollouian’s direction is powerfully done which finds ways of having great creativity to it. Stambollouian creates thrilling moments which are extremely well done.
Jack Holden performs the story alone for the duration of the show, but is joined by John Patrick Elliott who performs the soundtrack for the show so well. Holden plays multiple roles from main character David Baird to Ken Rex, to also briefly a small child. Holden almost switches from character to character really well, there are a few slight times that it takes you a little longer to distinguish the switch but almost majority of the time Holden switches really well. Holden’s individual characterisation is something that was definitely worked on, Holden creates each person with good physicality, impressive mannerisms and great vocal, while also able to hold a very good american accent throughout, Holden has quite a number of skills. Holden really has to do a lot in this show not just perform, but also move steps, microphones and other pieces of set, what people might think could be difficult, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for Holden. Holden’s performance throughout the show is quick, skilled and brilliant. A job well done.
Joshua Pharo’s lighting design is very good, with a dark and moody feel to it. Pharo’s dark colours set tones for scenes and creates atmosphere well. Pharo’s video design is also very good, displaying text such as the chapters of the show so the audience knows where we are at that point, it helps to avoid the potential confusion.
All in all KENREX looks into true life events of a small town in America, in such a theatrical way. This true-crime thriller seemed to have the audience's attention from start to finish, with a nicely written book and great soundtrack that goes with it. KENREX is a show that is thrilling and original. I really enjoyed this show, for its style and take on creativity to perform this story, and what could have been your general way of presenting a true-crime with many cast members, sets and props, it's different and is performed and written brilliantly.
★★★★★
Book tickets to see KENREX. Playing now at the Sheffield Theatres Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse until 16th of November.
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