Susie Salmon is just like any other young girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. There’s one big difference though – Susie is dead.
And so Alice Sebold’s beautiful novel unfolds, brought stunningly to life in a new adaption at Oxford Playhouse all week.
We just all slipped naturally back into being 14 again,” he explains, ‘but it’s important not to exaggerate or overplay being that age while still showing their naivety and innocence.
In it stars Samuel Gosrani, who makes his stage debut as Susie’s childhood sweetheart Ray.
It is a dream come true for the young actor who only graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July, and is relishing every step of this extraordinary journey.
Adapted by Bryony Lavery and directed by Melly Still, this unique coming-of-age tale, that captured the hearts of readers throughout the world, is exciting, emotional and uplifting, Samuel promises.
“It’s such an amazing production and so important to tell this story – so current and modern and the audience goes on that journey with us and leaves feeling really uplifted.”
The stunning reviews speak for themselves, and yet dealing with the death of a young girl could seem rather morbid?
“The reviews have been amazing,” Samuel agrees. “It’s beautiful going into something that’s already doing so well.
“But it’s the subject matter that works in our favour,” he adds, “because it’s not a murder mystery or about catching the killer, but about those that are left behind. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle little pieces at a time until everything comes together, and about rebuilding lives.
“It’s really beautiful and upIfting and gorgeous. I could talk about it all day,” he smiles.
“I just loved the story from day one, so working on a play of this calibre was the best thing I could imagine happening to me.”
An emotional journey though to perform every night? “I play Susie’s childhood sweetheart – an English lad who moved to the States, and their beautiful naive relationship. He’s a really great character I get all the nice scenes with Susie as well, so I think I’ll cope,” he laughs.
“But if it gets too much we just have to remember we are only telling a a story. It was hard at first and kept a few of us awake, thinking about the themes, but then you remember you are just there to tell the story.”
Is it hard then playing such a young character? “We just all slipped naturally back into being 14 again,” he explains, ‘but it’s important not to exaggerate or overplay being that age while showing their naivety and innocence. You forget how energetic boys are at that age!”
As for touring, Samuel loves the hectic schedule. “Each city we visit is different which keeps things alive and energised, and the audience rally engages with it. They really make it for me.
“It’s the most amazing, perfect first job. I’m still pinching myself really.”
The Lovely Bones runs at Oxford Playhouse from Monday November 11 – Saturday November 16. 01865 305305 or oxfordplayhouse.com
