Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Joanna Moran, Andrew Di Tian, Rebecca Riley, John Purcell, Rachel Mckeown, Luke Sanders, Sheddie Broddle, Laura Jump.

It doesn’t matter what form it takes, physical, mental, sexual, domestic or nationalistic and governmental, bullying has to be one of the most reprehensible acts that one human can do to another. To usurp your alleged control over another person because you don’t like the way they dress, the way they speak, their mannerisms, their beliefs or culture, to belittle someone because they are different to you, because they might not agree with the way the world is and or even your own faults in which they keep quiet about is something that at times boggles the mind. It breeds self-loathing, introversion and can come to the most drastic of conclusions.

For Sarah Lowes and her debut play, My Afternoon With Bruce Lee, the bulling is the key element to the story but also it is a sage piece of advice for those that find themselves stuck in the maelstrom of such bitterness and anger, of the unspoken words between people that is born out of fear and resentment. The possibility that if you do extend the hand of understanding and try to overcome the distress it will either be the best thing you could have done or at least it will become clear that the only thing you can do is walk away from it.

Sarah Lowes’ play is at all times enjoyable and poignant, it gets to the heart of the matter with a sincerity that sometimes is neglectful in first time productions and in the hands of Director Samuel Erskine and the cast. That sincerity shines through like the top of St. John’s Beacon on the most murky and misty day that shrouds Liverpool in its icy grip.

My Afternoon With Bruce Lee has a wisdom attached to the idea, a notion that thinking is better than reaction, controlled and measured responses is better than lashing out in retaliation. With help from the image of Martial Arts film star Bruce Lee, played with a wonderful exuberance by Andrew Di Tian, Cheryl, a feisty and energetic Joanna Moran, learns that bullies, the loud mouthed ones who expect others to fall to their will and bulldoze others who dare stand up to them, are just as frightened, just as in need of a talk than anybody.

With great support from Rebecca Riley, John Purcell, Rachel McKeown, Luke Saunders, Sheddie Broddle and Laura Jump, Sarah Lowes’ debut play is a thought provoking and dynamic piece worthy of being praised highly.

Ian D. Hall