BWW Reviews: OUT OF THE LENS, Waterloo East Theatre, September 18 2014

David Kingsmill and Nicholas Chave's first collaboration, Out of the Lens, premiered at 2014's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, before sliding across to the Waterloo East Theatre for three nights this week (with performances concluding on 20 September 2014). At only forty-five minutes long, Kingsmill's creation is unusually brief - and his and Chave's flowing musical style, which utilises far more melodic breadth than much contemporary musical theatre, makes the experience all the more fleeting.

A two-hander, Out of the Lens tells of a young, typically bewildered student. Joseph is stuck for inspiration that will get him the final photography grade he's pining for - until he meets Ryan. Despite Joseph's determined state of "not gay", there's not a lot else to tell of plot-wise. The show could be compared to Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring in that it is far more about sought images and subtle exchanges between characters than it is about plot twists. Due to this, it almost feels like the starting point for a musical - perhaps as though other plots will one day be added. However, the two actors sustain things beautifully, particularly Andrew Walker, whose direct delivery was notably honest and interesting.

Guy Woolf gave a very endearing performance as Joseph, with some lovely comedic moments, and Sarah Redmond's direction was truly excellent. The realism in the pair's interaction was a joy to observe. Woolf and Walker's careful relationship was beautifully approached and avoided the hideous camp and cheese which often trips up lesser productions. All accompaniment and incidental music was played exquisitely by Chave, whose energy was immensely expressive throughout.

All in all, this was a fantastically true production - it is a rare gift to dispense with melodramatic shouting and to portray two people's life experiences with such quiet honesty. Here are several to watch.

The above photograph was taken by Guy Woolf during the show's first performance in Edinburgh on 11 August 2014. Out of the Lens ran at the Waterloo East Theatre from 18 to 20 September 2014.

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