Manuscript: A punchy little production laced with sexual tension

Manuscript leaves your mind racing and head spinning with its engaging and totally unpredictable plot line. 

A dark and twisted tale of ambition and revenge, it’s a punchy little production that’s been left in the capable hands of local director Carol Birch. 

Laced with sexual tension and general debauchery, the story tells of two Ivy League students, Chris (played by Travis Chambray) and David (Geoffrey Faiella) who have been best buddies since they were young. Chris’s new girlfriend Elizabeth (Paige Hallet) comes to party hard with the boys ahead of a glitzy college ball and David, an aspiring writer, appears in awe. It becomes apparent that Elizabeth and David share a bitter past that involved Elizabeth plagiarizing David’s work as a stepping-stone to her success. 

His revenge is served so cold it sends chills up your spine. 

The three young actors did justice to their parts — this is the first time I have seen the young Travis Chambray in a production and he was a natural on stage. His role begins fairly low key but develops into an emotional performance and it was well executed. 

Faiella’s role is challenging from the get go and the actor’s natural, larger-than-life persona shines through into David’s. 

I am used to seeing Hallet in singing roles but her the talent seeps through into acting only roles. 

The best part of this play is how it keeps you guessing to the bitter end. I could commit the greatest review faux pas and give away the majority of the plot but you still would have a hard time guessing the end. 

The play could have been cut down to size a little — some of the scenes dragged a little but for the most part this is a thrilling rollercoaster ride definitely worth the $25 ticket. 

Manuscript runs at Daylesford Theatre  until June 28.