Low Down

Well-conceived play about child-killer Mary Bell. The first half deals with her trial, the second is set ten years later when she absconds from an open prison to enjoy a weekend in Blackpool.

Review

This starts out as a two-hander, Mary and her sister at play ,leaping in and put of several other characters to tell the story of Mary's crime and punishment.

The second half is less successful, being a rather naturalistic account of a trip to Blackpool with a fellow in-mate. 

The cast are engaging and manage to breathe a lot of humanity into what could be a rather dull episode of  "Crimewatch". 

We are invited to sympathise with Mary who was clearly too young to understand the enormity of her actions. 

Writer Jack Thorne brilliantly captures the playful honesty of children at play and the contrasting posturing of adults.

Reviewed by GP 3/8/07

Website : Lifeboat Theatre