Under the Lights – an energetic and sobering play brought to life by a chameleon actor (c21 Theatre Company touring until 1 March)

Josh and Okie are not natural wannabe rugby players. Josh is good at arm-wrestling, while Okie is a young bookmaker, taking bets on Josh’s lunchtime bouts. But the pair of video gamers turn out to be good additions to the school junior squad. And soon they’re experiencing the rough and tumble – one former bruises, the latter threatens to permanently damage your health – as the Medallion rugby team progress through the early rounds towards the semifinal of the schools’ competition. Along the way, they also learn that while some coaches exercise an abundance of caution (Mr Walsh) and put player safety first, others (like Billy) have a more laissez-faire attitude with serious consequences.

The set is minimal. Green grass and foreshortened rugby posts are a visual reminder of the game at the heart of this one-man play by writer Maria Connolly. Paul Hinchcliffe’s lighting conjures up the tones of harsh stadium lighting. But the real focus is on John Travers who not so much engages with the audience as engrosses them with his word-perfect delivery of the vibrant script. He rarely stands still, leaping up and running around wearing a red and white sports strip and stripy socks.

Contorting his body and his accents around just short of twenty characters, at times the dialogue spews out of Travers’ mouth like a high-pressure hose. There’s no room for stumbling, but Travers is as surefooted as his main character Josh is wired and pumped.

The coach’s rhetorical question “How much of you want it?” emphasises the need to win, ideally at all costs. “It’s only a wee knock” dismisses the possibility of concussion and 23 days away from the pitch. The one act play highlights the very real dangers of poorly regulated contact sport and the need for teachers and coaches to value players over results.

Connolly’s script is packed with punchy one-liners and even risks playing with poetry in pivotal scenes to fruitfully add rhythm and urgency to the unfolding drama. Eat. School. Train. Sleep. Character Josh and actor Travers are up for the challenge.

The ending is both abrupt and ambiguous. Deliberately so. Without giving too many spoilers, we join a blacked out Josh as his brain tries to piece together what’s happened. No certainty is offered about the ultimate prognosis. What is for sure is that players, parents, coaches and supporters are unlikely to sit through the play without being challenged to call out unacceptable risk-taking and safety procedures going unheeded.

Directed by Stephen Kelly, Under the Lights is an energetic and sobering play, given form by Maria Connolly and brought to life on stage by a chameleon in the shape of John Travers.

The final performance of this short tour is in Island Arts Centre on Saturday 1 March. Hopefully the show will not be allowed to rest but will be welcomed into sports clubs and schools.

Photo credit: Neil Harrison

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