855-FOR-TRUTH

★★★

Hope Theatre

855-FOR-TRUTH

Hope Theatre

★★★

“attempts to cover a lot of ground in a short space of time with mixed results”

Belief is subjective, which allows you to ‘believe’ you are in a forest in Utah and not at The Hope Theatre off Holloway Road. Hessian trees, rostra and a smattering of branches and pebbles complete Rhiannon Binnington’s emotive, pine-fresh set.

Climate activist Isaac (Max Raphael) stumbles into a glade and discovers Meredith (Molly Hanly), a member of a Christian cult that resides in the forest. The unlikely pair quickly form a curious relationship, both wishing to strengthen their connection, but neither prepared to compromise on their beliefs. Meredith, poorly educated and heavily indoctrinated, respects the peace and protection the woods offer and utilises the healing properties of the local pine sap to help her sick sister. She’s as intrigued as she is wary of Isaac, believing him to be ‘unclean’ with sin. Isaac is passionate about the climate and collects data in the hope of improving his chances of getting into college. He pities Meredith but is careful not to patronise her. Through their shared appreciation of the forest, it’s not long before both discover that the other is aware of the impending doom of the planet, be it for very different reasons.

There is a lot to dissect in Eva Hudson’s play. Connection and the sharing of ideas without judgment. Young people, voiceless and hopeless about their future; and how hysteria is used as a weapon to divide and control. With so much to mull over and the slightly off weighting of a 45-minute first act and hour long second act, it’s not surprising that the ideas become muddy in the second part of the piece. The characterisation suffers because of this.

In act two, Meredith and Isaac decide to create their own religion into which the latter is baptised in a heady, evangelical sequence. Isaac descends from this point, becoming frantic in his quest to try and solve the impending apocalypse. As a result, his motives become frustratingly unclear.

Lydia McKinley’s direction makes sure the space is used well and filled by performance, regardless of where the actors are placed.

Raphael and Hanly as Isaac and Meredith have tangible chemistry and both bring an innocence of youth that is vital to the play’s themes.

855-FOR-TRUTH attempts to cover a lot of ground in a short space of time with mixed results. What is clear however, is that when facing the end of the world, there are worse ways to go than being bathed in the light and graced by a hymn from Bruce Springsteen.



855-FOR-TRUTH

Hope Theatre

Reviewed on 13th February 2025

by Michael Rinquest

Photography by Robert Grooms

 

 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

ROSIE’S BRAIN | ★★★★ | February 2025
PORT CITY SIGNATURE | ★★★½ | October 2024
THE LEAST WE COULD DO | ★★★★★ | October 2023
MIND FULL | ★★★ | March 2023
HEN | ★★★ | June 2022
100 PAINTINGS | ★★ | May 2022
FEVER PITCH | ★★★★ | September 2021

855-FOR-TRUTH

855-FOR-TRUTH

855-FOR-TRUTH