Review: The Life and Death of Kenneth Halliwell at the Lichfield Garrick Studio

Sep 21 2009 by Gary Denning, Birmingham Mail

The Life and Death of Kenneth Halliwell

LICHFIELD GARRICK STUDIO

THE bludgeoning to death of celebrated playwright Joe Orton by his gay lover, Kenneth Halliwell, who then took his own life with an overdose, was the sensation of summer 1967.

Orton was a rising star with plays such as Entertaining Mr Sloane and Loot to his credit, while Halliwell, his lover since RADA in 1951, was now only known for knowing Orton and becoming increasingly bitter and depressed, with pills for every mood.

Richard Ely in his one man play examines the final few months of the failing relationship through the eyes and tortured mind of Halliwell.

The anger and fears culminate in that fateful evening when Halliwell, not for the first time, decides to kill himself.

This time though he decides he and Orton are one entity.

Good acting and good writing deserved a bigger audience.

VERDICT: HHHHI

ROGER CLARKE