'Follow Me'

Follow Me tells the story of Ruth Ellis, who, at 28, was the last woman to be hanged in the UK. What gives the play depth and makes for a unique piece of theatre is the interspersion of Ruth’s story with that of Albert Pierrepoint, her executioner. Far from being the black-masked villain of the piece, Pierrepoint is portrayed as a decent, caring and ethically evolved man, endeavouring to protect to his greatest ability those he must execute. At one stage he informs us – the wardenesses of Holloway prison – that he always ensures the quickest and most painless death by measuring the correct length of rope for the prisoner’s bodyweight. The final walk to the gallows must also be as brief as possible, and the final words spoken to the prisoner - Follow Me - are more than mere words: they are Pierrepoint’s last change to offer solace and comfort to a fellow human being. His internal struggle is summed up when he remarks “you’re the last man that can give them comfort and you’ve got to kill them”. Playing in the Pastry Bakery at the Fringe Factory Theatre, the space is basic and the set is almost bare but for two tables and two chairs. There is no elaborate lighting, no set changes and only minimal sound effects are used to set the scene. What makes the play the engaging experience that it is, are the story and the characters, which is how good theatre should be. Guy Masterson’s direction is bold but sensitive. The audience is included in the action from the very beginning, the dialogue being a series of monologues delivered to us directly, often from the very front of the stage. As the space is quite small, a relationship is instantly forged and maintained between actors and audience and the experience is the richer for it. The characters show us their official fronts initially but slowly open up to give us insights which range from heartbreaking to stomach-churning to surprisingly funny. Both actors are excellent. Ross Gurney-Randall as Albert Pierrepoint brings a soft humanity and decency to the role. Pierrepoint was known for his execution of war criminals in Nuremburg after world war two. It is with distaste and slight sadness that Gurney-Randall’s Pierrepoint tells us of turning down an OBE for his efforts and of instead receiving a clock. Ruth goes through an incredible journey throughout the play and from the beginning Beth Fitzgerald has complete control of her character. Hers is a performance full of humour, poise and emotional honesty. Follow Me has rightly won several awards since its Edinburgh premiere last year. If you are looking for a theatrical experience that will make you think, feel, and possibly reassess a few preconceptions, this show is well worth checking out. For full article, read here --> http://tinyurl.com/26k5z4