The Effect
The Effect is a play by the British playwright Lucy Prebble. The protagonists volunteer in a clinical drug trial, where they start to fall in love. Their relationship throws the trial off-course.
It received its premiere at the Royal National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in November 2012, and starred Billie Piper and Jonjo O'Neill.[1] The piece was revived in London in 2023.
Synopsis edit
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Tristan and Connie each agree to volunteer in a clinical drug trial, where they start to fall in love. What they are not sure of is whether their newfound passion is instinctive or a byproduct of dopamine. Thus, the two throw the trial off-course, much to the frustration of the clinicians involved.
2012 Production edit
The Effect, a The National Theatre and Headlong co-production, opened at the National's Cottesloe Theatre on 13 November 2012. Directed by Rupert Goold, who also directed Prebble's previous play ENRON, the cast featured Billie Piper as Connie, Jonjo O'Neill as Tristan, Anastasia Hille as Dr James and Tom Goodman-Hill as Toby. Further creatives were Designer Miriam Buether, Lighting Designer Jon Clark, Musical Direction Sarah Angliss, Sound Designer Christopher Shutt and Projection Designer Jon Driscoll.[2]
Reception edit
Charles Spencer from The Telegraph wrote that "Lucy Prebble is a playwright blessed with an exceptionally fine mind [. . .] the play struck me as being both wise and sane, raising more questions than it answers, to be sure, but that seems a sign of integrity in a work dealing with such a complex subject. But what makes The Effect so special, is that as well as being a play of ideas, it is also deeply moving, both in its depiction of the giddy wonder of love, and also in its account of the terrifying wasteland of depression itself. ... The Effect is an astonishingly rich and rewarding play, as intelligent as it is deeply felt."[3] Paul Taylor from The Independent observed, "This four-hander brings the author's agile wit, intellectual penetration and a fresh, deeply affecting empathy to bear on a fundamentally much more complex topic than finance: brain chemistry and what it can – and cannot – tell us about the causes of severe depression and the experience of being in love. … This is a provocative and challenging play … it ends in edgy gesture of good sense that made me feel like cheering."[4]
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Critics' Circle Theatre Award[5] | Best New Play | – | Won |
2013 | Laurence Olivier Award[6] | Best Actress | Billie Piper | Nominated |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Anastasia Hille | Nominated | ||
| Evening Standard Theatre Awards[7] | Best Play | – | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Billie Piper | Nominated | ||
2013–14 | Susan Smith Blackburn Prize[8][9] | – | Lucy Prebble | Nominated |
2020/23 Revival edit
A revival of the play was planned at the Boulevard Theatre London in March 2020 with Anthony Neilson directing and featuring Eric Kofi-Abrefa as Tristan, Christine Entwisle as Dr James, Tim McMullan as Toby and Kate O'Flynn as Connie.[10] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the play was postponed.[11]
A revival was eventually staged at the National's Lyttelton Theatre, opening on 1st August 2023. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the cast featured Taylor Russell as Connie, Paapa Essiedu as Tristan, Michele Austin as Dr Lorna James and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Toby. Further creatives were Set and Costume Designer Soutra Gilmour, Lighting Designer Jon Clark, Composer Michael 'Mikey J' Asante and Sound Designer George Dennis.[12]
References edit
- ^ "The Effect: Critics smitten by new Lucy Prebble play". BBC. 14 November 2012.
- ^ Prebble, Lucy. "The Effect", Methuen Drama, 2012, ISBN 978 1 408 18348 9, (page 6)
- ^ Spencer, Charles (13 November 2012). "The Effect, National Theatre, review". The Telegraph.
- ^ Taylor, Paul (14 November 2012). "First night: The Effect; Cottesloe Theatre, London". The Independent . Archived from the original on 2022-06-18.
- ^ Masters, Tim (January 15, 2013). "Adrian Lester named best actor at Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". BBC.
- ^ "Olivier Awards 2013: The results in full". The Telegraph.
- ^ "London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2013: the winners and shortlist". Evening Standard. November 8, 2013.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (March 2, 2020). "On Her 4th Time Nominated, Lucy Prebble Wins 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize". Playbill.
- ^ "American Theatre Critics Association - ATCA Home - 2013-14 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize". americantheatrecritics.org.
- ^ Perks, Daniel (13 February 2020). "Lucy Prebble's The Effect at the Boulevard Theatre cast announced". What's On Stage.
- ^ "'This is hard on your soul': the coronavirus's threat to new theatres". the Guardian. April 3, 2020.
- ^ Prebble, Lucy. "The Effect". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Royal National Theatre. from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.