I often wonder, as do many others, what life after death would be. Whether there is a heaven or hell, or just an abyss of nothingness.
The Lovely Bones at the Birmingham Rep explores the vantage point of the death of a young girl who, in her afterlife or so-called “heaven”, becomes obsessed with watching life on earth.
It’s truly a captivating piece filled with laughter, sadness and despair. It was a thought-provoking and healing story, re-imagining life after death.
It tells the tale of Susie, a 14-year-old girl, who raped and murdered by her neighbour in Pennsylvania in 1973. It observes the effect it has on her family dynamic and friends as this unique story unravels.
Actress Charlotte Beaumont was excellent, portraying a curious stroppy teenager with a gentle warm heart, but a rage for the reveal of her murderer and police incompetence.
Amongst the earthbound, Susie was given the chance to have anything she desired in the heavenly realm but only desires one thing – to be with her family. She witnesses a life she can’t have through her sister, Lindsay, and a love she can’t grasp through her school crush.
The atmosphere of the play was very tense and dramatic but extremely emotional and left me with the question of whether innocence can really be preserved?
The entire performance was delivered by a 10-strong cast who played each character brilliantly with great transitions.
I was enthralled by the skills of director Melly Still, designer Ana Inés Jabares-Pita and lighting designer Matt Haskins. They created a simple and beautiful, but powerful setting based in a suburban town in America.
The atmosphere was brought to life through a tilted mirror which gives the audience a dual perspective and eerie lights to dim this meek idea of a heaven.
The play was adapted from a global best-selling book, written by Alice Sebold, who told Birmingham Eastside it was exciting to “see The Lovely Bones as a play and to see its characters come to life on stage”.
I managed to survive The Lovely Bones without tears, but I wasn’t able to say the same for those around me.
I highly recommend watching this chilling and heartfelt play, which runs until 10th November. Ticket details are available online.
The stage adaptation of The Lovely Bones is both chilling and heartfelt. It was a thought-provoking and healing story, re-imagining life after death.
The atmosphere was brought to life through a tilted mirror which gives the audience a dual perspective and eerie lights to dim this meek idea of a heaven.
