REVIEW: Time and Time Again – A Time Travel About Friendship

Directed by Ioana Pitic, Time and Time Again is a brilliant ode to the friendship of two girls, realistic yet tender. Through fragmented flashbacks, it gently unfolds Becca and Zoe’s 20-year bond and life journey. During the transitions between scenes, you can catch a glimpse of the subtle changes in the relationship and mentalities among the characters.

The entire performance lasts only 60 minutes, and the main props are six chairs and a large screen showing a timeline marked with years and the characters’ corresponding ages. But the limited runtime and the simple setup do not make this work dull; on the contrary, it is unique and creative. For example, the chairs are arranged as fitting rooms, a karaoke bar, or chaotic home layouts. The creative team’s use of props is truly inspiring, clever and full of imagination.

©️ Indigo Creative

The story traces Becca and Zoe’s journey from a childhood promise to teenage fun, from sharing romantic troubles to gradually drifting apart as adults. One stays in Hong Kong, the other leaves for university in London. The seven-hour time difference implies not only the geographical distance between the two cities, but also that their lives have taken completely different paths. Despite their best efforts, they can no longer maintain the pure, easy friendship they once had.

Gradually, on social media, they go from having no time to chat to nothing left to say. The urge to share fades, and they never fulfill the promises to meet in London. Even if they don’t want to admit it, both know the friendship is burning out like a candle. One of the most moving scenes, which brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of my own lived experiences, is when they are four months apart. Both of their lives are in a mess. Becca, due to family reasons, juggles three jobs and has no energy left to reply to messages. Zoe, overwhelmed by essays and finals, tries to blend in classmates but can not fit in. She can only awkwardly fake a smile and say “cheers” to make her seem the most local and easy-going.

YY Yong and Stephanie Renae Lau deliver outstanding performances. Without a single line of dialogue in some scenes, they vividly portray the two girls’ lives and contrasting struggles, shifting flawlessly between past and present.

©️ Indigo Creative

As the play approaches its end, when it involves political unrest in Hong Kong and moments where the characters’ lives begin to stabilize, it feels slightly a bit short, and I wish there had been more time to explore them. Still, the ending is poignant: despite their ups and downs, conflicts and differences, Zoe is still willing to fly back to Hong Kong to be Becca’s bridesmaid. They cry in each other’s arms and witness one another’s new beginnings, fulfilling their promise. But if this were real life, they might never have crossed paths again. The time travel ends, leaving only warmth behind.

★★★★ 1/2

©️ Indigo Creative

Cast:

Stephanie Renae Lau - Zoe / Writer & Co-Producer
YY Yong - Becca / Movement Director & Co-Producer

Creative and Production:

Ioana Pitic - Director & Co-Producer
Simon Pilling - Assistant Director
Danny Milwain - Co-Producer
Henry Rehberg - Lighting Designer
Haley Sliker - Lighting Operator
Inés Ruiz - Sound Designer & Operator
Alex Nicholson - Composer of ‘Notification Song”

Venue Address: 77 St James’s Street, Brighton, UK, BN2 1PA
More information: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/time-and-time-again/

Company instagram: @indigocreative.uk