These Quicker Elements is a play made up of fragments: fragments of memory, fragments of narrative, and, more literally, fragments of glass. It pushes the boundaries of the monologue form in an exciting new way, forming a crystallised example of online theatre done well.
Filmed in what appears to be one continuous shot, the play is about a woman called Lana, whose mind goes blank all of sudden, and then has to piece together her memories using quotations written in a mirror. We discover the details of her life at the same time as she does, learning about her career in set design and the rocky arc of her relationship with her husband. Marianne James as Lana gives an impeccable performance, fluidly shifting from the light-hearted opening dance sequence to intense moments of pain and trauma. The pace rises and falls as though composed to the letter – credit must go to director Helena Aeberli. A huge part of what makes the acting so impactful is the way the camera functions as the m