Just a quick mention that this Sunday Radio 3 are broadcasting "The Effect" by the pretty amazing @lucyprebblish which I managed to write some music for. It's on at 9pm and features at least 3 moments that make me cry. https://t.co/oFofOUirea
It’s the first mention in The Observer’s radio picks for the week as well. Once again I just can’t locate it on the website so here’s a copy/paste from my subscription copy!
A riveting Drama on 3: The Effect (Sunday, Radio 3, 9pm) explores whether we define ourselves in medical or mystical terms. Lucy Prebble’s award-winning play follows two strangers taking part in a clinical trial. “I can tell the difference between who I am and the side effects,” pronounces Tristan (Damien Molony) but when he and Connie (Jessie Buckley) fall in love, how can they be sure that what they are feeling is not drug-induced? Beautifully acted, the production also features Samuel West and Christine Entwisle as the medical supervisors with profoundly different views on pharmaceutical use
WOW.. that was an intense rollercoaster, what an incredible play and radio adaptation / production of it. Vivid, compelling, intelligent, thought provoking... funny and moving.. Damien and Jessie Buckley and also Christine Entwisle were all utterly superb. As the play unfolds there are more and more layers revealed, from the personal to political... Very much deserves a re-listen!
OMG, reeling from that! Amazing, thought provoking, fantastic acting from absolutely everyone. I'm going to have to listen to it again on iPlayer tomorrow.
It took me back to the time I worked for a cancer research centre - I didn't run any trials but I had to make sure they were conducted in such a way that they would be accepted by the professional bodies and collate the data. Nothing so dramatic as this, but double blind tests of drugs were the norm - most of our studies were about treatments other than drug, though!
For some reason this time around I couldn't listen live here in the states when played in England but did listen immediately following. Certainly did not disappoint. I was thoroughly caught up with this. Definitely plan a relisten! Of all things to pick up on but every time Tristan says "why" there seems to be such a devilish undertone. I can almost imagine Damien smirking.
Excellent radio drama. I thought the acting from the whole cast was great (I have a soft spot for Sam West so having him in something along with Damien was fab - shame they didn't get scenes together though!), the premise worked really well and Lucy Prebble's writing really explored the territory brilliantly. I've already downloaded it for a re-listen sometime soon!
What a shame you had problems listening live Susan, Drama on 3 assured me both Tis Pity and the Effect were available live and on demand worldwide, did any other international member have this issue?
Great to read your reactions.. Maghat I totally agree that this was a genius exploration of the themes by Lucy Prebble. In her intro she mentioned not writing a play since because she had said it all, and I can see what she means.. this would be very hard to follow!
There were quite a few surprising twists for me, and did not expect the two major ones. It went from being funny - I don't agree with Connie that we never laugh when on our own (i think she said watching sitcoms) only with others as an act of submission - I totally laugh out loud when on my own and did in this. Until, it became really quite tragic and moving.
Brilliant writing and what performances. Damien was magnetic, and this role really allowed him to use his range. I could almost see it in my minds eye - and wish it was staged too - but the radio production did an incredible job of painting a visual too.
Damien Molony Forum, you hit the nail on the head for me with your description that this radio production did "an incredible job of painting a visual too". I'm a very visual person so listening only isn't always as easy for me to enjoy. I could visualize this play much better than I could listening to "Tis Pity", but I think that's just me. This play just appeared to be so fast moving and I could visualize them running to the other building, visualize their private moments and actually picture the happiness and distress on their faces just by the inflection in their voices. I had headphones on and when two of my children came into the room at different times their question was, "mom, why are you smiling". Not sure why I couldn't listen live but due to time change, worked out better for me. I could finish dinner and then sit back and enjoy!!
...I don't agree with Connie that we never laugh when on our own (i think she said watching sitcoms) only with others as an act of submission - I totally laugh out loud when on my own and did in this.
I agree with you Domino, most of us do laugh when on our own although I think there’s some evidence that we laugh at a lower threshold when there’s a social element. I wonder whether that line from Connie was doing something different though? Was she basically saying to Tristan “I’m being submissive but I know I’m doing it”? There are a few points during the play where she demonstrates heightened self-awareness and analyses her responses even while she’s having them - maybe this was one of them.
On the visuals, doing some of the, erm, intimate stuff could have been interesting on stage! Camera angles and cut-away shots are very useful on screen but you don’t have that option on stage!
Damien Molony Forum, you hit the nail on the head for me with your description that this radio production did "an incredible job of painting a visual too". I'm a very visual person so listening only isn't always as easy for me to enjoy. I could visualize this play much better than I could listening to "Tis Pity", but I think that's just me. This play just appeared to be so fast moving and I could visualize them running to the other building, visualize their private moments and actually picture the happiness and distress on their faces just by the inflection in their voices. I had headphones on and when two of my children came into the room at different times their question was, "mom, why are you smiling". Not sure why I couldn't listen live but due to time change, worked out better for me. I could finish dinner and then sit back and enjoy!!
Hi Susan, it’s domino here, just in the admin account!
Yes, the sound department did a wonderful job with the few different locations in the play. I must confess that on the one hand I really wanted a visual, but on the other bit having one involves us the audience far more in the ‘creation’ of the play - we all know the setting for the trial was a hospital for example, but will all individually paint our own versions of that hospital based on our own experiences and imaginations - this makes radio a very special unique art form. It’s also more immersive, or immersive in a different way perhaps. Even more so with ‘The Effect’ because it’s a four hander making it immediately more intimate. might that be why you connected with it better than tis pity ? As well as it bring set in present day with modern language maybe.
...I don't agree with Connie that we never laugh when on our own (i think she said watching sitcoms) only with others as an act of submission - I totally laugh out loud when on my own and did in this.
I agree with you Domino, most of us do laugh when on our own although I think there’s some evidence that we laugh at a lower threshold when there’s a social element. I wonder whether that line from Connie was doing something different though? Was she basically saying to Tristan “I’m being submissive but I know I’m doing it”? There are a few points during the play where she demonstrates heightened self-awareness and analyses her responses even while she’s having them - maybe this was one of them.
On the visuals, doing some of the, erm, intimate stuff could have been interesting on stage! Camera angles and cut-away shots are very useful on screen but you don’t have that option on stage!
Oh yes Connie was obvs definitely doing that with Tristan Maghat, and being self deprecating too, the cynicism and those other layers were also not lost on me but I don’t agree with the premise.
Lol to your comment on the intimate stuff ! the same sort of thought crossed my mind during that particular scene near the end which could have been an erotic one early on but was tragic in the later context of Tristan’s journey. A really powerful moment and an extremely visceral one especially on radio as your imagination becomes conflicted and confused. Clever !
I've never managed to get the download feature to work when we're out of the country, just "listen on demand". Be interested to hear whether anyone's managed to download to listen offline from outside the UK.
Damien Molony Forum wrote: Oh yes Connie was obvs definitely doing that with Tristan Maghat, and being self deprecating too, the cynicism and those other layers were also not lost on me but I don’t agree with the premise.
I think it was doing other things for her characterisation too - she was painting herself as someone who has some "formal" knowledge of pyschology and I thought it established her as being somewhat credulous: she'd read an expert opinion on something and repeated it as fact rather than questioning it. So, unlike you, she'd bought in to the premise to some extent at least.
I've never managed to get the download feature to work when we're out of the country, just "listen on demand". Be interested to hear whether anyone's managed to download to listen offline from outside the UK.
For me it worked. However, I have just an English sim card in my mobilephone because my phone was stolen and I'm on vacation ..maybe that has something to do with it.
Glad the download worked for you Sana, I hope it does for our other international friends?
I've listened twice now (had hoped for more but maybe this weekend) and am struck even more strongly by the shift in tone and the twists concerning both Tristan and Dr Lorna James. Even when you are expecting it to come,second time listening, it is still profoundly moving.
The Effect is also a masterclass in cleverly blending the personal and the political. Issues and questions are raised so seamlessly, for me anyway. What better way to raise awareness than with an immersive piece if art like this? Just recalling some of the reviews of 'The Hard Problem' criticised it for being like an essay of ideas and less accessible than it could have been. The Effect is not like that at all and yet it powerfully addresses issues of drug development, clinical trials, psychiatry, love.. and much much more besides.
What was it Connie said, "we are our bodies, our bodies are us" - the play could be said to be science vs spirituality debate but it wasn't that - although those ideas were definitely running throughout - it was a very and humanely immersive way of exploring themes without being a 'debate'.