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Chasing Rainbows

Published Wednesday 3 June 2009 at 10:40 by Jon Holliday

A young girl with learning difficulties sets off to attend a London conference highlighting problems of the disabled. Suddenly separated from her support worker, she has to deal with situations she has never before encountered on her own. Will the many lessons she has certificates for actually help, confuse, hinder or even lead to her being taken advantage of?

Such are the bare bones of Glenys Evans’ delightful new play. It may sound earnest and rather worthy, but is crammed with refreshing, laugh out loud scenes. With just a cast of four, Louise Osborn’s assured, unpatronising production imaginatively conveys the incident-packed train journey and the hustle-bustle of city life as a background to the dilemmas being confronted.

As Hayley, Catherine Morris gives a remarkable performance, displaying an appealing innocence that proves quite irresistible. Her continual naive questioning and misunderstanding of her harassed support worker Carol (Julia Wyndham) is a constant joy. Her involvements with a pompous over-stressed MP (Adam Timms) and a homeless busker (John Norton) are as funny as they are pointed and provocative.

Music, songs, a rich soundscape, plus projected animations of Hayley’s thoughts and reactions, add immeasurably to the telling atmosphere. Chasing Rainbows tours to 40 venues in Wales and England, aimed at adults with learning difficulties, their carers and support workers, as well as the community in general. Believe me, there is so much to laugh at, to learn and be moved by, in this warm-hearted little gem. It is deserving of the widest possible audience.

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