Playing the fame game

Ben Sloan|Metro10 April 2012

Anyone who saw Capote will be aware of the complex tug of war between journalist and subject. And this is just one of the issues that bubbles up in Christine Harmar-Brown's 15 Minutes, which applies Andy Warhol's notorious claim to teenage tearaway Toni (Carly Hillman).

Living in a hostel, happily accepting stolen gifts from her boyfriend, Mason (an impressive Ashley Rolfe), Toni remembers her time in a young offenders' institute through her experience with Maggie (Moira Brooker), a TV documentary-maker who gave the girl a camera during her time inside.

Now she's out, Maggie sees her chance to make an insightful portrait of a troubled teen. Of course, it doesn't work out quite so simply.

When Maggie turns up to film, Toni behaves. It's when the cameras aren't rolling that the girl goes off the rails: what makes good TV is what's never seen.

Harmar-Brown interestingly portrays the 'adult' world as one of adultery and deceit, while there's something straightforward about the two youngsters. But it can feel more like a lecture on the issues than a play informed by them.

And it's never quite clear why Toni would warm to Maggie when the programme-maker's patronising air is so apparent.

Paul Jepson's direction encompasses a TV screen showing snippets of Toni's video diary but what really holds the attention is Hillman's performance. All sneering, bullish confidence, she's quick to flare up and slow to trust.

Even at the close, when the twists and turns feel shoe-horned in, she is the one to watch.

Until May 13, Arcola Theatre, 27 Arcola Street E8, Mon to Sat 8pm, £12, £8 concs, Tue pay what you can. Tel: 020 7503 1646. Rail: Dalston Kingsland

15 Minute Musicals

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