Mary (and the Perfectly Possible but Probably Implausible Perhaps Parade) - Tick Tock Bridget
Jessica Miller, Rosa Firbank and Harriet Morris of Tick Tock Bridget are back, and on home soil at the Brighton Fringe Festival 2023, with a new production that is delightfully enchanting and enriched with wit, intrigue and vulnerability. Mary (and the Perfectly Possible but Probably Implausible Perhaps Parade) brightened the, already blazing, June afternoon at One Church Brighton and introduced the joyous Harriet Parker-Beldeau as a new cast member, stepping into the trio, for this performance, alongside Miller and Firbank.
A self-proclaimed modern day fable, Mary (and the Perfectly Possible but Probably Implausible Perhaps Parade) follows the discovery of a door, appearing, as if by magic, in the middle of the sea. Miller, Firbank and Parker-Beldeau move softly and casually through gesture, reaching and wrapping, as we receive the thoughts of our heroine Mary, noting how her morning coastal walk shifts from habitual to unusual as she notices the door. Curiosity sparked, the trio flock together, shuffling across the space with intrigue, their gaze switching rapidly and inquisitively, as if searching for the truth; Why is the door there? Where does it lead? Who or what lies beyond its borders?
“Reasons are how I understand the world” – Mary
With control and poise, Miller, Firbank and Parker-Beldeau fall into synchronisation, their bodies rippling and undulating rhythmically. The movement expands across planes with a sequence of shifts, drops and rolls, as the story of the door develops further. One door becomes many and Mary’s monologue hints of fake news, hyperbole and conspiracy theories that grip the nation, creating a panic and frenzy that we know all too well. The trio captures the feeling of excitement and unease that arrives with the doors delicately, one moment highlighting the vulnerability of existing within the realm of the unknown by curling on top of each other in a protective foetal position, and later being dazzled by wooden levers that stand just above head height when erected, moving freely yet tentatively within the parameters of the newly constructed space.
A split second that travels in slow-motion; Miller releases one of the beams, catching it, as it descends, like a held breath, the relief of this seemingly impromptu moment apparent on her face. A simple yet spirited moment that spoke to the clarity of intention and human reaction and, is reflected in the following moments she spends with her eyes closed, moving from within, whilst Firbank and Parker-Beldeau appear captivated, reacting sensitively to each motion made.
Image by Sophie Newton
Guided by Mary’s inner monologue, we are transported into a world of possibility, with striking moments of child-like wonder and delight, intertwined with tender interactions of self and collective reflection. A glorious celebration of curiosity, each element of this Tick Tock Bridget production tells its own story and, closing out with a punchy and powerful projection of rock ’n’ roll and unity, leaves me feeling inspired to search for doors in everyday life, to step through them unquestioningly, and to see just where that could lead me.
Credits:
Concept and creation by:
Tick Tock Bridget (Rosa Firbank, Jessica Miller, Harriet Morris)
Producer:
Bridie Donaghy
Performers:
Rosa Firbank, Jessica Miller, Harriet Morris, Harriet Parker-Beldeau
Writer:
Bridie Donaghy
Costume design:
Harriet Hill
Set design:
Kirsty Harris
Original composition:
Daniel Dobbs
Illustration:
Martina Francone
Supported by:
Public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Additional support from:
The Mount Without
One Church Brighton