Writer: Mark Ravenhill
Director: Nick Edwards
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Develops Slowly”
3 / 5
It’s 1999 – Nick has been in prison for 15 years, but now he’s been finally released into a new world that he barely recognises.
Nick’s (James Stephen Finn) eager to connect with his ex Helen (Rachel Bothamley) and pick back up where they left off. But, her ‘eat the rich’ days are behind her, and she’s now canvassing as an local MP to regulate local bus routes. Hardly the punky, passionate woman he protested with in their youth. With no solace available, he wanders the streets, looking for a place to stay, and trying to make sense of life on the outside.
Told as a series of snapshots into Nick and his companions lives, the audience are introduced to a range of different characters and storylines that develop slowly over the course of the two hour runtime. Nadia (Lulu Freeman) is Nick’s new love interest, who makes a living as a stripper, the pair forming a connection when he saves her from an abusive boyfriend. The duo are both broken and jaded, each trying to escape the world and lifecycles they’re trapped in. Tim (Andrew White) is Nadia’s best friend, slowly dying of a long-term illness that he’s not motivated enough to try and recover from. Tim’s boyfriend Victor (Alexander Astaniotis) provides him with some temporary respite though, even if Tim did have to pay him to be there. Finally, Jonathan (Elisha Sessions), the successful business man with revenge on his mind, eager to make Nick pay for how his life transpired many years ago.
With so many heavy plotpoints and varying characters, presenting the story as multiple mini scenes doesn’t quite do the characters justice. Though it’s easy to follow, and each narrative thread is explored thoroughly, its hard not to feel that something is missing to deliver the connection and intrigue to the audience. There are some shocking scenes, and some enjoyable revalations, but each of them are presented so matter of factly that they lack the necessary tension to really captivate.
Astaniotis is brilliantly funny as party boy Victor, while still doing a great job of piling on the emotion during his tender hospital scene with Tim. Freeman is equally as engaging as messy, broken Nadia, likeable and charming, she showcases someone masking pain magnificently. Millie Weston and Emma Brown have cleverly created a homely, packed out set featuring a variety of different locations – each of them unique and individual to each character. The transitions between scenes are quick and simple, which allow the narrative to keep up its pacing throughout. An enjoyable revival for this 90s script, that could just do with packing a little more punch to really take hold.
Runs until 26th September
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