OPERATION NEW LIFE was written by Katy Darby in January this year in response to an offer by the First Draft Company to cast, direct and produce a play written inspired by a recent item of news and to do it all in six weeks! The play starts on a University campus where students are relaxing with a few drinks and playing TRUTH, DARE and PROMISE. They each have to reveal a secret and the sexy girl tells of her adventure at midnight on the White Horse of Uffington. No one can beat that but the quiet lad in the corner is goaded into saying that he burnt his parents' house down when he was 12. The game breaks up in embarrassment at this obvious lie but the sexy girl wants more (and gets it). Her best friend is worried about the relationship which develops and does research into back news items and finds a report of such an incident (the report which inspired Katy to write the play). We in the audience see it in flash back, including what happened to the boy's brother and little sister. The friend tries to warn the girl but she won't listen so the friend contacts a reporter who comes running round eager to scoop the story that the young murderer whose name and identity were changed is once more mixing freely with society. And then something happens (not telling you what) to make the friend back down on the story. It was brilliantly done in a performance at the Hen and Chickens and a packed audience gave longer and louder applause than than this reviewer has heard for a new play for many, many years. More about the author.
