‘The Sweethearts’ is set in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in the
summer of 2014 where we’re familiarised with three male soldiers, Private David
Robbins, Private Trevor Smith (Jack Bannon) and Lance Corporal Mark Savy (Jack
Derges) who enter the tent with bunches of poppies as they are about to be
joined by manufactured girl band, The Sweethearts who are going to perform some
of their hits for the troops. It appears that they are competing for their
affections and Private David knows the lead singer of the band but hasn’t seen
each other for a very long time.
Nonetheless, female soldier, Corporal Rachel Taylor (Laura Hanna) who
does not stereotypically appears as the typical female has a fondness for the captain
of the regiment, Captain Thomas Nicholls but is not ready to open up about her
feelings to anyone. When The Sweethearts, Coco, Helena (Maria Yajah) and Mari
(Doireann May White) arrive we learn that their intentions are not honourable as
it is supposed to be a media stunt, as well as, there is bitter rivalry as Coco
attracts more attention compared to the other two. Over the course of the
performance, it looks like Coco is facing some personal issues as she is
thinking about leaving the band to focus on a solo career, conversely her other
band members are getting angry about Coco’s pompous attitude as they are about to
perform in front of thousands. This causes tension between the soldiers and the
girls as the soldiers are finding them troublesome and rather difficult to
handle. There seems that David and Coco were at secondary school together and
as David is poetic and lyrical and he helped Coco when she was starting out in
her quest for stardom, and during their reunion it looks like a romance could
be blossoming. Before The Sweethearts are about to perform, Captain Thomas asks
Coco to dedicate their performance to his daughter, but she declines as she
wants to dedicate this to David. Unfortunately, Captain Thomas doesn’t take
this news very well and decides to abuse Coco verbally and physically for her
actions. At the finale, Captain Thomas who is raging because of Coco’s decision
he then forces his soldiers and The Sweethearts to sign their signature all
across her face and body which is a really disturbing moment indeed as he
treats her like an object and not a person. Page’s narrative is meagre as I
would have liked more explanations about how the war has been affecting them
mentally and how the band could have shown a little bit of their talents as
none of this was show whatsoever.
One found the performances by the company of, ‘The
Sweethearts’ to be amply depicted through acceptable voice and movement
executions. Joe Claflin is suitable as Private David Robbins; mainly how
someone so educated would decide to become a solider and the passionate moments
with Coco suggests that the most un-macho of men can be the fruitful one to woo
the eyes of a pretty lady. Sophie Steven is tolerable as The Sweethearts’ lead
singer, Coco; in particular how pain staking it is for to be in band she longer
wants to be in and we see her tough side when she allows people to write all
over her without objecting this move. Stevie Raine is satisfactory as Captain
Thomas Nicholls; especially when he turns into a vile human being when he abuses Coco where you actually want
to hit him for his own actions and he becomes too childish and immature for you
to take him seriously.
Daniel Burges’ direction of reasonable here as he been able
to capture the microscopic positives in the plot and the attention to detail in
portraying The Sweethearts in an aloof manner shows how manufactured bands are
fundamentally up themselves and slightly uncreative. Alex Marker’s design is quite appealing as you
can be immersed into the British army camp in Afghanistan to great effect and
the construction of the tent in such a small space is surprising to have seen.
Overall, the experience of, ‘The Sweethearts’ was both terrible and pleasing at
the same time and it does grow on you near the end.
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