The Effect is the production currently in rehearsal by the Moot House Players, directed by Harry Tennison. This diary covers their rehearsal process from the first week of rehearsals to the final night. The Effect follows Connie and Tristan as they are involved in a clinical drugs trail for a new antidepressant drug. The production runs at Moot Hall on the 7th, 8th and 9th of July, and tickets are available from www.moothouseplayers.com. This weeks entry is completed by Sarah Randall, who plays Dr Lorna James.

“I’m really looking for something which is a challenge.”  Those were the words I said to my husband a few weeks before the opportunity arose for me to take part in this very interesting play, The Effect, and that is exactly what this play is, a challenge.

Finding out about the characters in the play and their relationships and lives has been hard at times but extremely rewarding as an actor. To be able to try and understand why someone is struggling with a mental health issue and be able to portray this in a sensitive and thought provoking way is not something that comes along too often.

So who is Dr Lorna James?  Clinical Psychiatrist, 47, unmarried, no children.  This week during rehearsal we have seen Lorna show us glimpses of what has gone before and how she has come to be involved in this anti-depressant trial.

Abbie Middleton-Evans (Connie) and Sarah Randall (Dr James) in rehearsal.

Lorna has had to fight her own demons through the years and has suffered with depression for many of those, hence her choice to not have children and possibly pass this trait on to them. Does this add to her depression?

We see details of her relationship with Toby starting to materialise, another thing which has contributed to the depression but in her words “it barely contributed.” So what has led her to this point in her life. Death of a loved one? Loss of a job? The ending of a relationship? All contributors and all things that all of us are touched by at one time or another. Will Lorna overcome her depression or will it continue to dictate what she does and what path her life takes?

The next few weeks will be spent learning lines and perfecting performances so that when you come and see this piece of theatre, you will be able to connect with the characters and possibly understand a little better the challenges that they, and many others face on a daily basis.