Youth theatre shows generally make up in enthusiasm for anything they might be lacking in experience, but Daydreamer Theatre Company’s Dominoes Falling, which showcased as part of the Watford Live! Community Arts Festival last week, thankfully proved to have a generous helping of both.

Four young students have gathered together to swot for their exams only it soon becomes apparent that some among them have other, more pressing items on their agenda than university places. Petty rivalries give way to open hostility as the tension between the group heightens and what begins as a battle of wits becomes a much more than game; it’s a matter of life and death.

As the play unfolds we learn that Helen and Jenna are stepsisters and something terrifying that happened when they were younger has soured their relationship. Helen has also had a former liaison with Jenna’s boyfriend Vincent and is reluctant to let her power over him slip away. Joshua, meanwhile, appears to be involved with Helen but is drawn to Jenna’s more compassionate nature. As the stress levels rise between them it becomes apparent that something has to give.

Of the actors, Vicky Sheldon as Helen and George Day as Joshua have clearly had more practice in the dramatic arts and so tended to dominate the scenes, while Tolu Ikusemori as Vincent and newcomer Charlie Byng as Jenna, were more subdued. Nonetheless all four players gave a good account of their character’s traits - the unhinged, yet super smart Helen, the annoyingly can-do Joshua, sweet and sensitive Jenna and the hapless Vincent, who tends to follow rather than to lead.

Writer director Mahlon Prince has created a powerful, insightful and yet very funny script which focuses on each character in turn but without the need to spell things out in graphic detail. The actors themselves have obviously given a lot of thought to their roles and shaped parts of their dialogue to suit.

The stage setting is equally clever with good use made of the available space and yet with enough clutter hanging around and props in gloomy corners to give life to the claustrophobic basement where the action takes place.

When it comes to action, however, there was almost too little in places to sustain the attention. There were moments when the pace was just right, such as the up tempo scene where they play rock, papers, scissors which was compelling and beautifully choreographed, but at other times when the characters just stand and spout forth a torrent of words, it felt more like watching a soap opera than engaging with an intense piece of live theatre.

Given this was its first real performance, however, Dominoes Falling has huge potential and no doubt, the company will be making minor changes following its debut as assiduously as it did throughout the creative process of preparing it for the stage. It certainly deserves the recognition and to be given a longer run next time out.

Melanie Dakin