THE LAST TRAIN HOME is one of the most original stage plays that we have seen at Player-Playwrights. It has one set (a carriage of a tube train) and an all woman cast, including a Caribbean conductor/inspector, and it runs just a little over 30 minutes. Ideal for amateur theatricals, perhaps as a competition entry for a Festival.
So what's it about? That's for the audience to work out as the curtain goes up on a tube train with only three passengers: a young girl, a middle-aged woman and an elderly lady. The girl is a bit unwell, having been to an office party and the others are sympathetic [they had bad experiences like that when they were younger] and offer her help and advice. The three get to talking and it turns out that they have a lot in common. But each has a totally different view of the world and they can't even agree which line they are on; and the train isn't making any stops. The conductor keeps coming in to reassure them that everything is all right: they are on the last train home. Gradually it begins to dawn on us in the audience that they are being taken on their last journey, as their lives are ending, and that all three females are the same person at different times of her life. So what's going on? Well, the old girl had a heart attack while trying to buy a ticket and this Caribbean lady is looking after her, as she reviews her life before passing on. What we are seeing is what is going on in her head. We should have guessed it from the title but it was surprising how many P-P members didn't get it until the end. Sustained applause and a very high mark. If you'd like to put it on at your theatre contact the author, Peter McKelvey on peter.mckelvey@btinternet.com
