Stop and Search

Arcola Theatre

Reviewed – 14th January 2019

★★

“Good design and convincing acting ultimately save this messy, drawn-out and static production”

‘Stop and Search’ is Gabriel Gbadamosi’s “play as a Londoner” and, like London, is a sprawling, confusing urban adventure brimming with big ideas. A strong opening scene sets up some intriguing characters with questionable histories, but it’s a downhill slog from there.

Built around three tediously long conversations, the play professes to explore personal distrust and the blurring of lines between friendly chat and interrogation. Tel (Shaun Mason) picks up hitchhiking Akim (Munashe Chirisa) on his way smuggling illegal furs across the Channel. Meanwhile good cop/bad cop team Tone (David Kirkbride) and Lee (Tyler Luke Cunningham) pass the time working on a surveillance job closely linked to Tel’s girlfriend Bev (Jessye Romeo) and his own illegal activity. The final scene sees Akim as a cab driver, picking up Bev who has started to question how much her life is worth living.

The constellation of characters and situation should lead to fireworks, but instead burns out to empty exposition. Gbadamosi’s script fails in creating action and plot within the temporal and spatial confines of the play. Those long, winding conversations, although littered with some pretty turns of phrase, are not interesting enough in their own right to hold our attention. In fact, by reaching towards style over substance, the dialogue becomes quite opaque at times, leaving audience members asking on their way out: “Did you get what that was about?”

Mehmet Ergen’s direction does not help matters. Two out of three scenes take place in a car and remain static and restricted because of it. There is no sense of place or atmosphere in the one outdoor scene. As with the script, the direction lacks action and hides behind the words. The scenic design is reminiscent of a grimy underground car park, and Daniel Balfour’s sound builds a suitable feeling of dread in the climax of the piece. The actors work hard to create complex and convincing characters and give the script a much-needed energy. Chirisa and Mason remain the most interesting and evenly matched partnership.

‘Stop and Search’ does to London what ‘True Detective’ did to L.A. There is a whole world hidden behind this script that wants exploring, but this is sadly not the play to do it. Good design and convincing acting ultimately save this messy, drawn-out and static production.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography by Idil Sukan

Stop and Search

Arcola Theatre until 9th February

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

Fine & Dandy | ★★★★★ | February 2018

The Daughter-in-Law | ★★★★ | May 2018

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives | ★★★★★ | June 2018

The Rape of Lucretia | ★★★★ | July 2018

Elephant Steps | ★★★★ | August 2018

Forgotten | ★★★ | October 2018

Mrs Dalloway | ★★★★ | October 2018

A Hero of our Time | ★★★★★ | November 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

★★★

“Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous”

Batavia Productions are a brave company. Their work in film and theatre focuses on vital social issues, from sexual harassment to suicide prevention, and this piece, now enjoying an extended run at north London’s Hope Theatre, does not shy away from big issues facing young people.

Mark (Jay Parsons) needs someone to talk to, but with being bullied at school, ignored by his family, and isolated by the rest of society, he doesn’t have anywhere to go. Enter Graham Norton. Or, at least, a signed picture of Graham Norton. In lieu of calling into Graham’s radio show, Mark finds peace in his ability to be open with this one photo, revealing the pain he suffers on a daily basis, all leading up to one final, devastating decision.

Parsons plays the awkward Mark as compellingly vulnerable and naïve. His confessions do not come easy. As a one-person show, our interest rides mostly on Parsons’ performance which at times seems under energised. A microphone is used to differentiate between characters (dad, school bully, sister) in a way that seems cumbersome and unnecessary. Parsons relies on voice rather than physicality in creating these scenes, and so the characterisations are less precise. Director Joseph Winters could have pushed his actor farther in this regard.

Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous. It is structured well, with a dramatic tension crystallising under the surface throughout the piece. Filled with lucid, fantastical descriptions, the script has elegance but suffers through a lack of engaging stories. The funniest moment involves an unsuspecting cat having a finger shoved up its behind, but even this gets milked just a little too much. Perrott’s insights into a young adult coming to terms with his sexuality certainly ring true however and are a witty reminder how fascinating and scary discovering your sexuality can be.

Ultimately though this is a sad tale. Is it a warning of the dangers of online communities? A reminder of how common thoughts of suicide can be for young LGBTQ+ people? We are offered no solutions, just questions. A fairly strong central performance keeps this show going, but if Batavia wants its audience to take action, we need to understand what it is we’re fighting for.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography courtesy Batavia Productions

Arcola Theatre

Reviewed – 14th January 2019

★★

“Good design and convincing acting ultimately save this messy, drawn-out and static production”

‘Stop and Search’ is Gabriel Gbadamosi’s “play as a Londoner” and, like London, is a sprawling, confusing urban adventure brimming with big ideas. A strong opening scene sets up some intriguing characters with questionable histories, but it’s a downhill slog from there.

‘Stop and Search’ does to London what ‘True Detective’ did to L.A. There is a whole world hidden behind this script that wants exploring, but this is sadly not the play to do it. Good design and convincing acting ultimately save this messy, drawn-out and static production.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography by Idil Sukan

Stop and Search

Arcola Theatre until 9th February

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

Hope Theatre

Reviewed – 12th January 2019

★★★

“Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous”

Batavia Productions are a brave company. Their work in film and theatre focuses on vital social issues, from sexual harassment to suicide prevention, and this piece, now enjoying an extended run at north London’s Hope Theatre, does not shy away from big issues facing young people.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography courtesy Batavia Productions

In Conversation With Graham Norton

Hope Theatre until 26th January

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue: