Signs and Symbols - The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

12:13pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

Signs and Symbols, a new play by Nathan Morris, played at the intimate Old Joint Stock pub theatre in Birmingham last week.

A play of mounting tension; this is an intelligent piece of writing which raises more questions than it answers.

On arrival into the theatre we see a rather bookish man, Derek (Nathan Morris) staring intently at a piece of paper emblazoned with mystical symbols and making furtive notes. A looped piece of eerie music accompanies him.

It is this character, and Morris' superb characterisation, that drives the piece forward. The geeky but fascinating Del' seems to be the key to the puzzle.

Del appears to be trapped in a deserted house with Rick (Dean Leon Finlan) on a secret mission. The relationship here is interesting - Finlan gives Rick a macho quality; that of a man comfortable in his own skin which contrasts well with the more likeable yet socially awkward Derek.

The piece is atmospheric and stylish. It flits about in time; giving us intriguing glimpses into the lives and histories of the characters and there are several moments of well played tension.

We welcome the flashes of black humour brought about by Morris' twitchy physicality and avid jelly tot scoffing, or Finlan's blatant sexism.

The third character in the piece, the mysterious Ana, played by Keely Anne Hill, is a further puzzle. We are left wondering about her role in the drama - how much is she a catalyst or a component?

Hill's portrayal is intriguing. I felt personally that some of her longer exchanges with Derek needed more variety in order to allow the audience to see the colours in her character. But this is partly the beauty of Signs and Symbols'. It is a mystery which takes its audience on a very interesting journey. We never quite solve the whole mystery but it certainly plays on the mind for days afterwards.

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